Elon Musk plans to give USD 45 million a month to pro-Trump super PAC: Report
California [US]: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said he plans to give USD 45 million a month to a new super political-action committee supporting former US President Donald Trump's presidential run, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Notable Backers
Other backers of the group, called America PAC, include Palantir Technologies co-founder Joe Lonsdale, the Winklevoss twins, former US ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft, and her husband Joe Craft, who is the chief executive of coal producer Alliance Resource Partners, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Focus on Voter Registration
America PAC, formed in June, is focused on registering voters and urging constituents to vote early and request mail-in ballots in swing states, according to one of the people.
Countering Democratic Efforts
The coalition assessed that the Democrats have historically had very robust "get out the vote" campaigns and took note of the money that the Biden camp has dedicated to so-called on-the-ground efforts in swing states. America PAC will attempt to counter that. Currently, Musk is the world's richest person, with an estimated fortune of more than USD 250 billion.
Significant Financial Commitment
The money that Musk has said he plans to give to America PAC is an extraordinary amount, according to The Wall Street Journal report. The largest known donation in the 2024 US presidential election so far is USD 50 million, given by banker Thomas Mellon's great-grandson to a super PAC supporting Trump.
Ongoing Efforts and Financial Contributions
America PAC has hired several employees and has been registering voters, holding discussions with constituents in swing states, and urging voters to request mail-in ballots. According to a filing made on Monday, America PAC had USD 8.75 million in contributions for the three-month duration ending on June 30. Musk had hinted that he planned to begin his donations in July.
Musk's Recent Political Moves
Apart from Lonsdale, the Winklevosses, and the Crafts, the filing included several other donors to America PAC, including several with close associations with Musk. Earlier in March, Elon Musk said he did not intend to make donations to the campaigns of Trump or US President Joe Biden. However, the Tesla CEO has gotten closer to Donald Trump in recent months. On Saturday, Musk formally announced support for Trump for US president after a shooter tried to assassinate the former US President at a rally in Pennsylvania.
(With ANI inputs)
