Billionaire and owner of “X”, Elon Musk, has emphasized the importance of maintaining political neutrality on his social media platform. However, as a private individual, Musk has his own perspectives which he openly shares with a wide audience.
Elon Musk, leveraging his social media presence, influence, and financial resources, is actively supporting and advocating for the election of Donald Trump.
Elon Musk, a 53-year-old father of 12, showed his unwavering support for the Republican nominee in a truly remarkable way. During a recent rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Musk enthusiastically bounded around on stage behind Trump as the candidate delivered his speech. His energy and excitement were palpable, demonstrating his wholehearted endorsement of the nominee.
“I’m not just MAGA, I’m dark MAGA,” Musk playfully announced, showcasing his black “Make America Great Again” hat to an enthusiastic audience.
Elon Musk, who holds the title of being the richest man in the world with a staggering net worth of $242 billion, as reported by Forbes, has made an ambitious commitment.
He has vowed to donate $1 million every day to individuals who support his political action committee’s petition in favor of the Constitution. This pledge has caught the attention of experts, who have raised legal concerns regarding its implementation.
Musk ventures into politics
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Musk’s political involvement may not have been apparent in the past, but he did show support for former President Barack Obama during the 2008 and 2012 elections.
Additionally, he made financial contributions to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, as reported by Open Secrets, a nonpartisan research group that monitors political funding.
It’s no secret that Musk has shown a clear dislike for Democratic politics in recent years.
In 2023 and 2024, Musk’s posts started to include mentions of Trump and Biden more frequently. In fact, in recent months, he has often written more posts about one of them than about Tesla.
For instance, in July alone, the Journal documented 315 Musk tweets referencing Trump or Biden, compared to 129 tweets mentioning Tesla.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the press secretary for the White House, chose not to provide any comments regarding Elon Musk’s growing engagement in politics.
X and Tesla have not yet responded to a request for comment.
How Musk is using Twitter to promote Trump — and disinformation
Elon Musk’s public messaging might prove to be even more beneficial for Trump than his immense wealth.
Elon Musk assumed control of Twitter, expressing his disappointment in its failure to uphold its role as a “platform for free speech.”
Since that time, Musk has terminated the teams responsible for combating misleading information. He reinstated accounts, such as the one belonging to right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, which had been previously banned. Musk’s actions were driven by his belief in the importance of free speech.
Musk is not only using his platform to support Trump’s cause, but he is also amplifying the disinformation that Trump and certain Republicans are spreading.
During his speech, Musk expressed his skepticism towards mail-in ballots and the lack of proof of citizenship, stating that it becomes nearly impossible to detect any fraudulent activity.
He further highlighted the occurrence of statistically improbable events that raise questions about the Dominion voting machines.
Musk found it peculiar that these machines were employed in Philadelphia and Maricopa County but not in many other locations, leading him to perceive it as more than just a mere coincidence.
In November 2023, Musk faced criticism for endorsing an antisemitic post on “X” and referring to it as the “actual truth.” This led to significant advertisers like Coca-Cola and Disney withdrawing their advertising investments from the platform.
The original post on “X” alleged that Jews were promoting the same type of hatred against whites that they advocated against.
Elon Musk has grown more outspoken in his criticism of Democratic politicians and their governing strategies. He has distanced himself from California’s political landscape, and in turn, has faced rejection from the state.
The Space Force’s attempts to increase SpaceX rocket launches along California’s central coasts were recently rejected by a state commission. The commission cited environmental concerns as the reason for their decision.
In response, SpaceX has filed a lawsuit against California regulators, alleging that the rejection was politically motivated.
Musk has expressed his discontent with the excessive regulations and taxes in California. In a bold move, he declared in July his intention to relocate both X and SpaceX to Texas.
This decision was triggered by a law signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, which prohibits school districts from implementing policies that mandate parental notification regarding their children’s gender identity or sexual orientation.
Musk’s decision to move to Texas may also be driven by a practical consideration: Texas does not have a corporate income tax, unlike California which imposes a high business tax rate of 8.84%, one of the highest in the country.
Are Musk’s politics turning away Tesla buyers?
According to CBS News, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives believes that Musk’s continued support for Trump is not a significant boost for Tesla sales. While it may have some impact, it is not a major positive for the company.
According to Pew Research data, the majority of potential electric vehicle buyers identify as Democrats, with nearly half expressing a likelihood to purchase an EV. In contrast, only around 10% of Republicans consider themselves likely to invest in an electric vehicle.
Tesla, which was one of the limited options for electric vehicles (EVs) during its initial production in 2008, is now facing significant competition from major automakers like Ford, Chevrolet, and Volkswagen.
This influx of competition is providing an alternative for individuals who desire a green vehicle but are apprehensive about Elon Musk’s political views. As a result, they now have the opportunity to explore other options in the market.
Elon Musk may have been compelled to align himself with Trump partially due to the Biden administration’s initial disregard for Tesla vehicles during the implementation of its electric vehicle tax incentives.
The Model Y, a widely sought-after Tesla model, became eligible for the $7,500 tax credit last year following the IRS’s expansion of vehicle classifications.
According to Ives, the Biden administration has largely disregarded Musk, considering him irrelevant and excluding him from important discussions.
In 2023, Musk made an agreement with the White House to allow other automakers to use Tesla vehicle chargers. This deal was made in exchange for Tesla’s access to federal funds.
As a result, Tesla received $17 million in EV charging grants from the bipartisan infrastructure law that President Biden often mentions. However, earlier this year, Musk decided to dismiss his Supercharger team, which disrupted and weakened the company’s charging strategy.
How Musk would benefit from a Trump presidency
Tesla investors are expressing their concerns about Musk’s political involvement as they would prefer him to focus more on his businesses, according to Ives.
Recently, during a speech at the Economic Club of New York, Trump mentioned his plans to appoint Musk to head a new government efficiency commission that would conduct a comprehensive audit of the federal government.
However, Ives is skeptical about the feasibility of this endeavor. “Unless he manages to create an AI version of himself, I don’t see how he could handle the additional responsibility,” Ives remarked, highlighting Musk’s already demanding commitments as the leader of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, as well as his involvement in other ventures like Neuralink and The Boring Company.
Ives also pointed out the potential conflicts of interest that could arise if Musk were to assume a government position, considering his extensive business empire.
Trump and Musk are both fighting against transgender issues
In 2022, Musk expressed his views on transgender issues publicly. According to Reuters, he has contributed millions of dollars to a group that sponsors anti-transgender advertisements.
Elon Musk has faced backlash for referring to his transgender child as “dead.” Wilson, who transitioned at the age of 16, has publicly criticized her father’s remarks and actions on social media. Musk revealed to far-right online personality Jordan Peterson that Wilson’s transition influenced his stance against gender-affirming treatments.