Editor’s Note: The article has been updated with a reaction from Tesla CEO Elon Musk regarding the report of $45 million funding in former President Donald Trump’s election campaign.
Elon Musk has reportedly committed to allocating an impressive $45 million per month to a new super political-action committee in support of former President Donald Trump‘s potential 2024 presidential campaign. Musk reacted to the report on social media but has not provided an official comment.
What Happened: Musk, the CEO of Tesla Inc. TSLA, has expressed his intention to contribute a substantial sum to the America PAC, a newly formed pro-Trump PAC, reported The Wall Street Journal on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The PAC, established in June, aims to register voters and encourage early voting and mail-in ballots in key swing states.
Backers of the America PAC include Joe Lonsdale, co-founder of Palantir Technologies PLTR, as well as the Winklevoss twins — founders of the cryptocurrency and Bitcoin BTC/USD trading platform Gemini. The PAC is led by former U.S. ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft and her husband, Joe Craft, the CEO of coal producer Alliance Resource Partners, according to the report.
Musk responded to the WSJ report on X by sharing an image of human-legged gnus with the text, “Fake Gnus,” displayed on it.
Representatives of Tesla, Palantir, Winklevoss brothers, and Donald Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comment.
See Also: Elon Musk Says SpaceX Making ‘Important’ Design Changes To Starship Ahead Of Its Fifth Test Flight
Why It Matters: Musk’s decision to support a pro-Trump PAC comes as a surprise, given his previous stance on political contributions. In March, Musk publicly announced that he would not be making any financial contributions to either the Republican or Democratic candidates in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
However, in July, Musk reportedly made a significant donation to the America PAC, marking a significant shift in his approach to political funding. His latest commitment of $45 million per month further solidifies his support for Trump’s potential presidential bid.
Despite his support for Trump’s campaign, Musk has also previously revealed that Trump is a big supporter of electric vehicles, despite his public criticism of the industry.
Moreover, Musk’s recent financial commitment follows a tragic incident at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a shooting resulted in two fatalities. Musk publicly backed Trump in the aftermath, expressing solidarity with the former president.
Image Via Shutterstock
This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Kaustubh Bagalkote
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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