Tech billionaire Elon Musk recently held a town hall event in Pennsylvania to support Republican candidate Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election. During the event, Musk downplayed the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and encouraged supporters to cast early votes while expressing skepticism about mail-in ballots. Musk, who has been actively supporting Trump through his super PAC, fielded questions on a variety of topics, including space exploration, immigration, and the efficacy of psychiatric drugs.
While addressing concerns about Trump’s role in potential democracy backsliding in the U.S., Musk argued that the January 6th attack was not a violent insurrection, contrary to popular belief. He also criticized those who view Trump as a threat to democracy, claiming that they themselves pose a threat to democracy. Musk’s comments were met with applause from the audience, which included hundreds of supporters packed into the ballroom and many more watching online on Musk’s social media platform.
Musk defended Trump’s actions on January 6th, stating that the former president had urged his supporters to protest peacefully. However, Trump’s rhetoric that day also included calls to “fight like hell” to prevent Joe Biden from assuming the presidency. Musk, who has invested over $70 million in supporting Trump’s campaign, expressed doubts about the validity of mail-in ballots, suggesting that they should not be accepted in future elections due to concerns about fraud.
Despite Musk’s reservations about mail-in voting, the process is safeguarded by various protocols, including signature verification requirements in every state. The town hall event with Musk was mostly filled with praise for the tech mogul, with attendees seeking his advice on a range of topics, including education, artificial intelligence regulation, and even sports. Musk highlighted his concerns about “woke religion” and the declining U.S. birth rate, while also sharing personal insights, such as his belief in Jesus as a historical figure and the importance of studying physics.
As part of his efforts to support Trump’s reelection campaign, Musk announced a promotion to give away $1 million a day to a voter in a swing state who has signed his super PAC’s petition backing the U.S. Constitution. While some critics have raised concerns about the legality of these giveaways, supporters like Josh Fox, a UPS driver from Pennsylvania, see it as a way to drive support for the Constitution and the Trump campaign. Ultimately, Musk’s town hall event in Pennsylvania showcased his continued backing of Trump and his efforts to rally support for the upcoming election.
