Billionaire Elon Musk’s super political action committee spent about $200 million to help Donald Trump win the election, according to sources.
The chief executive officer of Tesla Inc. and SpaceX led the establishment of the “America PAC” and provided the majority of the funding.
A ruling made by the Federal Election Commission in March paved the way for Super PACs, enabling Trump’s campaign team to rely on Musk’s substantial funds to increase voter turnout in key battleground states.
This strategy proved effective, as Trump’s polling numbers surged in swing states. At the end of the campaign, Trump thanked Musk for his contributions, calling him a “new star.”
James Blair, the political director of Trump’s campaign team, stated that the FEC ruling cleared the path for receiving more assistance from companies like Musk.
Blair served as a key liaison between Trump’s campaign team and various political action committees. Before the FEC’s ruling, early Super PACs had to operate independently and strategize without direct communication with the supported campaign team.
Blair highlighted that the ruling allowed for more direct communication in campaigning, enabling a more targeted approach in reaching broader audiences and specific demographic groups.
Musk not only provided financial support but also appeared frequently on stage with Trump during the final months of the campaign, becoming one of Trump’s most prominent supporters. His endorsement opened doors to younger voters who admire Musk.
Trump also benefited from Musk’s ownership of the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). In November 2022, Musk, as the platform’s largest shareholder, reinstated Trump’s Twitter account, overturning the platform’s lifetime ban imposed on Trump since January 2021.
Musk’s America PAC was established in May, but it gained clearer momentum in campaigning after Musk announced his support for Trump in July following an assassination attempt on Trump.
One of the most notable actions of the committee was holding daily $1 million lottery events for voters in seven key states. Despite facing legal challenges, the organization continued the lotteries.
Door-to-door campaigning also significantly impacted Trump’s voter turnout in rural areas of crucial states.
In a post-election speech on X platform, Musk reiterated that his PAC would remain active, preparing for midterm and local elections, with a focus on district attorney and judicial level races.
Elon Musk is poised to play a crucial role in Trump’s second term. Trump stated his intention to task Musk with overseeing the newly created Government Efficiency Commission.
(Adapted from Associated Press reporting)