A few weeks ahead of the presidential campaign, Elon Musk has taken an unprecedented role in the U.S. election, actively supporting Donald J. Trump. Recently spotted celebrating alongside former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the richest man in the world has established regular communication with the candidate, speaking to him multiple times a week.
Musk has leveraged his platform on X, the social media site he acquired for $44 billion, to promote Trump's candidacy to his 201 million followers while also spreading conspiracy theories about the Democratic Party and disparaging its candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, as reported by The New York Times. Additionally, he has directed significant financial resources into a political action committee called America PAC, which has garnered support from several prominent tech figures. This PAC aims to mobilize voters for Trump, not only in Pennsylvania but across the country.
Earlier in the year, Musk expressed an urgent need to defeat President Biden and assembled a team in Austin, Texas, to strategize for his super PAC. While initially hesitant to endorse Trump, he has since become increasingly fervent about Trump's potential victory, praising the former president's resilience and humor. A confidant recalled Musk stating, "I love Trump," reflecting his deepening commitment.
Musk's involvement is characterized by the same intensity he applies to his business ventures. With a team of lawyers, public relations experts, and canvassing professionals in Pittsburgh, Musk is merging his entrepreneurial strategies with a political mission.
The relationship between Musk and Trump has evolved significantly. Musk once privately referred to Trump as a "stone-cold loser" and initially supported Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. However, as DeSantis's campaign faltered, Musk sought ways to back Trump more publicly and actively. At exclusive dinners with influential billionaires, he articulated a vision for an organic movement to support Trump, relying on grassroots efforts rather than traditional advertising, according to the NYT.
Musk's super PAC, America PAC, aims to engage 800,000 to one million voters in battleground states, having reportedly allocated around $80 million for canvassing efforts. The group has quickly expanded its workforce, incorporating strategies from previous campaigns. Initially, Musk and his friends in the group had spoken of a budget totaling from $140 million to $180 million, almost all of it from Musk himself.
On X, Musk has been a vocal advocate for Trump, sharing over 100 posts about him since publicly endorsing Donald Trump in July. Although he has previously asserted that X should maintain a "politically neutral" stance, he has utilized the platform to propagate misinformation, including the unfounded allegation that Democrats are involved in "deliberate voter importation" and "fast-tracking" immigrants to citizenship for electoral advantage.
A research group reported on Thursday that hundreds of apparent pro-Russian bot accounts on X are disseminating misinformation about the U.S. election and amplifying false narratives regarding Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. The Washington-based American Sunlight Project (ASP) referred to these accounts as "sleeper agents", noting that they have managed to evade detection for years. The findings illustrate the ongoing issue of bot activity on X, formerly known as Twitter, despite commitments from billionaire owner Elon Musk to combat digital manipulation.
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