In a bold and unprecedented move, tech mogul Elon Musk has pledged to donate a remarkable $45 million per month to America PAC, a new political action committee supporting the former president, Donald Trump. Musk's announcement coincided with the revelation that Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) will be the Republican Party's vice-presidential nominee.
America PAC's Focus and Supporters
America PAC, which aims to enhance voter engagement and registration efforts, is positioned to rival the Democratic Party's historically successful get-out-the-vote strategies. Key figures backing this initiative include:
- Joe Lonsdale: Co-founder of Palantir Technologies, a data analytics company renowned for its work with government agencies and private companies alike.
- The Winklevoss Twins: Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, famous for their legal battle with Mark Zuckerberg over Facebook and their subsequent ventures in cryptocurrency, particularly the Gemini exchange.
- Kelly Craft and Joe Craft: Kelly Craft, a former Canadian ambassador and a gubernatorial candidate in Kentucky, and her husband Joe Craft, a prominent coal executive.
Significant Contributions and Future Projections
Musk's contributions already rank among the largest in the 2024 presidential campaign and could potentially reach hundreds of millions of dollars, setting new records in political donations. With a net worth of $252 billion, Musk remains the world's richest person.
As The Wall Street Journal reports:
America PAC has hired hundreds of employees for its efforts, and has been registering voters, having conversations with constituents in swing states and urging voters to request mail-in ballots, some of the people familiar with the matter said.
Musk in March tweeted that he didn't intend to donate to either Trump or President Biden's campaigns. But the billionaire Tesla CEO has gotten closer to the former president in recent months.
On Saturday, Musk formally endorsed Trump for president after a shooter attempted to assassinate the former president at a Pennsylvania rally. “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk said on X. In a subsequent post he said, “Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt.”
The Wall Street Journal reported in May that Musk and Trump had been talking frequently in recent months and were developing a friendly rapport, and that Musk was helping organize a data-driven project to prevent voter fraud that Trump was briefed on. The article said the two men had also discussed a possible advisory role for Musk in a potential second Trump administration, something Musk later denied.
Musk's Reaction and Ongoing Ventures
In response to The Wall Street Journal's report, Musk confirmed the news with a succinct “Yeah” on his social media platform X. He emphasized his shift from an Obama voter to a Trump megadonor by criticizing the woke left.
Beyond politics, Musk continues to spearhead groundbreaking ventures:
- SpaceX: Pushing the boundaries of space exploration with ambitious projects like the Starship program aimed at Mars colonization.
- X: Transforming the social media landscape with new features and a rebranding strategy.
- Tesla: Leading the charge in electric vehicle innovation, with plans to expand its product line and enhance autonomous driving technology.
America PAC's Financial Overview
Founded in May and registered in Texas, America PAC reported just under $100,000 in cash at the end of June. A recent filing revealed that the PAC raised $8.75 million in the second quarter of 2024, with Musk set to start donating this month.
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