Billionaire owner of Tesla and SpaceX Elon Musk has made an official foray into U.S. politics with America PAC, later super PAC likely to take a role in President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. According to various reports, Musk contributed over $118 million, becoming one of Trump’s top financial supporters for this election cycle. This further emphasizes his commitment to shaping the course of U.S. politics.
America PAC has made some financial and grassroots investments. Besides pumping huge cash into Trump’s campaign, America PAC has also been investing in grassroots mobilization activities on the ground in key swing states.
To drive home maximum impact, the PAC has invested in canvassing vendors in battleground states such as Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in hopes of registering up to 800,000 new voters by Election Day. These mobilization efforts, canvassing door-to-door or digital outreach, are integral in pushing forward the broad base of support that will be crucial for winning the election in key states.
In addition to raising funds for the Trump organization, Musk also used his social media following on X (formerly Twitter) to spread pro-Trump content. In so-called strategic posts, Musk called his massive followers to rise in support of their man, Trump, who was not only a politician, but also an example of “bias” in mainstream media to spread values of “freedom in economics” and “technological progressiveness.” Musk has also spoken to crowds at rallies and public events, highlighting the need for civic participation and voter turnout in these battleground states.
The ventures of Musk have not remained controversy-free. America PAC recently launched a first-of-its kind, unconventional voter outreach campaign: giving away $1 million a day to voters who sign a petition supporting Trump’s election campaign. The use of such incentives for voting or voter registration is banned under the election law. It cautions that such “giveaways” may run afoul of the federal election laws, and the Philadelphia District Attorney also filed a lawsuit contending that the scheme resembles an “illegal lottery.”
Musk’s America PAC has yet to encounter serious legal consequences but has certainly started a national conversation over the power of wealth in U.S. politics. The fact that Elon Musk is one of the most influential figures to have rallied behind Trump makes his support crucial in determining the result of the 2024 election; this will further heighten how powerful the wealthy are in the American political arena. With the date of Election Day looming close, all eyes are now on America PAC as it ramps up efforts to energize Trump’s base in the campaign’s final stretch.
