Elon Musk Donates $75 Million to Pro-Trump Super PAC
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has donated about $75 million to a super PAC that supports former President Donald Trump’s reelection bid, according to a filing released by the Federal Election Commission. Musk’s donation to America PAC between July 1 and September 30 accounted for virtually all of the PAC’s reported contributions during that quarter. This is the first confirmation of Musk’s financial support for the super PAC, following earlier reports that he was giving as much as $45 million per month, which he later denied. America PAC has reportedly been heavily involved in Trump’s ground game efforts, such as door-to-door canvassing, thanks to recent FEC rulings that allow super PACs to coordinate more closely with campaigns.
In addition to his financial contributions, Musk has also been actively supporting Trump ahead of the election. The billionaire has engaged in discussions with Trump and appeared at campaign rallies with the former president. With the FEC filing only reflecting donations through September 30, it remains to be seen how much more Musk may contribute leading up to Election Day. This significant financial support from Musk comes as Trump’s fundraising efforts have trailed behind those of Vice President Kamala Harris, with Democrats seeing a surge in donations since her entry into the race. The Trump campaign had raised $309.2 million through August and announced $160 million in September, while Democrats have reportedly raised more than $1 billion since Biden dropped out.
Musk’s donations to America PAC and other Republican causes mark a shift in his political contributions this year. FEC records show that he significantly increased his political giving this past summer, including donations to the National Republican Congressional Committee and Republican parties in Utah and California. The billionaire has a history of supporting Republican causes, with donations totaling more than $50 million before the 2022 midterms to groups that ran attack ads against Democrats and supported various candidates. Musk’s net worth is estimated at $246.8 billion, making him the richest person in the world.
Musk joins a list of at least 49 billionaires who have expressed their support for Trump, with some like Timothy Mellon contributing large sums to pro-Trump super PACs. Vice President Kamala Harris also has backing from more than 75 billionaires, including Reid Hoffman, Michael Bloomberg, Sheryl Sandberg, and Steven Spielberg. Musk’s financial support for Trump has been met with some controversy given his past criticisms of the former president. In 2016, Musk stated that Trump did not reflect well on the United States, and in 2022, he suggested Trump should retire from politics. Musk’s shifting political allegiances, along with his substantial financial contributions, highlight the complex landscape of political fundraising and billionaire influence in the United States.
