CNN on Monday reported that SpaceX, Tesla, and Starlink CEO Elon Musk called former President Donald Trump in a last-minute bid to push him to pick Ohio GOP Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate, a choice that Trump announced later in the evening as the Republican National Convention kicked off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“He was an advocate of J.D. Vance. He spoke with Donald Trump,” CNN’s Kate Bolduan noted during a show segment, citing another network reporter. She also pointed to a Wall Street Journal report claiming that Musk has committed $45 million per month to a pro-Trump super PAC, which she called “a you-know-what-ton of money.”
The WSJ added:
Formed in June, America PAC is focused on registering voters and persuading constituents to vote early and request mail-in ballots in swing states, according to one of the people. The coalition assessed that the Democrats have historically had very robust “get out the vote” campaigns and took note of the amounts of money that the Biden camp has dedicated to what are called on-the-ground efforts in swing states. America PAC will try to counter that.
After this article published, Musk on X posted a humorous meme responding to it with the caption “FAKE GNUS.” Subsequently, he wrote “Yeah” in response to a post that said: “Elon Musk went from being an Obama voter to pledging $180 million to elect DJT. The woke left really f*cked up. Badly.”
WATCH:
America PAC has employed hundreds of staff to register voters, engage constituents in swing states, and encourage voters to request mail-in ballots, sources told the Journal.
According to a Monday filing, America PAC reporting receiving $8.75 million in contributions for the three-month period ending on June 30. Musk had indicated that he planned to start his donations in July, as per one of the sources.
Musk endorsed Trump immediately after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pa., on Saturday. “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk wrote on his X platform. In a subsequent post he said, “Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt.”
In addition, hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has lent his endorsement to Trump.
Musk also reportedly made a financial donation to a group working to elect Trump, according to a Friday report. Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the donation, said the undisclosed amount of Musk’s donation was made to the America PAC.
In the months before the election, Musk was critical of President Biden’s immigration policies on X, which clearly aligned with conservative viewpoints.
In September, for instance, he visited the U.S.-Mexico border at Eagle Pass, Texas, after which he declared that the “situation is beyond insane and growing fast.” And he’s been critical of President Joe Biden and his administration following the brutal murder of University of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley by an illegal immigrant.
“Dems won’t deport, because every illegal is a highly likely vote at some point,” Musk wrote on his X platform. “That simple incentive explains what seems to be insane behavior. It has become so brazen that a gang of illegals can beat up police officers on camera in Times Square, get out of jail for free and *still* not get deported!”
Musk’s reported donation coincides with Make America Great Again Inc., a leading super PAC, announcing an impressive $104 million fundraising haul during the April-June second quarter of 2024 for Trump’s campaign.
Following last month’s debate between Trump and Biden, Musk seemed to suggest that it was merely political theater. Shortly after the debate, Musk shared his thoughts on the X platform in response to a post from billionaire venture capitalist David Sacks.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
