Tesla CEO Elon Musk donated $45 million to a brilliant political motion committee (PAC) devoted to re-electing former President Donald Trump, a marked shift into the political panorama by the world’s richest individual. That’s in response to a Wall Avenue Journal report, citing folks conversant in the matter.
Solely days earlier than publicly endorsing the previous president, Musk donated to the America PAC, a low-profile group shaped in June to fund Trump’s bid for the presidency. He beforehand vowed to not donate to Biden or Trump of their rematch for the White Home.
“Just to be super clear, I am not donating money to either candidate for US President,” Musk wrote on X in March.
But, Musk has shifted politically in latest months, accelerated by his practically nonstop help for Trump, which Musk reiterated within the wake of an assassination try on the presumptive GOP nominee throughout a marketing campaign rally Saturday. Because the CEO of an electrical car producer—the Tesla Mannequin Y the best-selling car final yr in decidedly progressive California—it’s unclear whether or not Musk’s stance will conflict with the political leanings of electrical car consumers.
Past Musk, critical tech cash is flowing into the PAC from Cameron Winklevoss and Tyler Winklevoss and Joe Lonsdale, Palantir Applied sciences cofounder, the WSJ reported.
Political shift
Musk – who has donated to each Democrats and Republicans – beforehand described himself as an impartial who donates solely to increase his affect amongst politicians.
He has donated about $80,639 per election cycle from 2004-2020, in response to the nonprofit OpenSecrets. About 50.1% of that cash went to Republican causes, of the $688,350 that went on to federal candidates and celebration committees.
“I get involved in politics as little as possible,” he mentioned throughout a 2015 Self-importance Truthful occasion. “There’s some amount I have to get involved in, mostly because SpaceX has to battle Boeing and Lockheed for national security and civil space launch contracts. If we don’t battle them, then we’ll lose.”
Musk has mentioned he beforehand voted for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and present President Joe Biden but additionally endorsed Republican Home candidates in the course of the 2022 race.
In recent times, Musk’s philosophy has clearly shifted away from neutrality in direction of a stronger right-wing stance. Some have marked his 2022 buy of X – previously Twitter – as the start of his political involvement, the place he gave himself a platform to espouse his frequent critiques of Biden.
“I voted 100% Dem until a few years ago,” Musk mentioned in March. “Now I think we need a red wave or America is toast.”
