Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has reaffirmed his support for U.S. President Donald Trump by announcing his intention to contribute $100 million to organizations affiliated with Trump’s political endeavors.
As reported by The New York Times, this announcement is unprecedented, as it is “unheard of for a White House staffer, even one with part-time status, to make such large political contributions.” Musk’s declaration comes at a time when Trump has expressed support for Tesla, Musk’s electric vehicle company, which is currently experiencing a significant decline in sales.
Notably, Trump has reversed his previous position on electric vehicles and has purchased a Tesla, standing alongside Musk amid criticism directed at both the company and its CEO for their contentious political perspectives. In his endorsement of Musk, Trump stated, “Number one, it’s a great product, as good as it gets. And number two, because this man [Elon Musk] has devoted his energy and his life to doing this and I think he has been treated very unfairly.”
Regarding Musk’s financial contributions, reports indicate that discussions are underway between Trump and Musk’s executives concerning the planned donations. The CEO of Tesla has indicated a reluctance to contribute to America PAC, his own super political action committee, which has previously invested heavily in Trump. Instead, Musk aims to direct his donations to an external entity closely linked to Trump. According to a report from the Washington Post, Musk has already allocated nearly $288 million to support the election of Donald Trump and other Republican candidates in the upcoming November 2024 election, making him the largest political donor.
Make America Great Again (MAGA) and Securing American Greatness are the organizations spearheading Donald Trump’s external initiatives. The report indicates that there remains ambiguity regarding whether the funds will be allocated to these organizations or if Trump will establish a distinct entity.
Despite Musk’s expressed willingness to contribute to political organizations linked to Trump, his financial support for his own organization persists. In preparation for the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election next month, the group led by Musk has invested $6 million.
