How much influence can the world’s richest man exert over one of the world’s oldest democracies? Next week’s election is not just about Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, but also the measure of Elon Musk’s impact on American democracy.
Although Musk has made modest donations to both Republicans and Democrats in the past, including $5,000 given to Hillary Clinton in 2016, this time he has spent $119 million to mobilize Trump’s supporters, and on his social media Platforms are promoting by taking advantage of -Trump’s campaign. She also has a significant presence at Trump rallies in key battleground states, recently unveiling her “dark Gothic MAGA” side.
Musk’s involvement has been scrutinized, particularly after he skipped a hearing related to a lawsuit over his efforts to give away millions to registered voters – a move experts have compared to vote buying.
He is also being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and is reported to have had regular communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising national security concerns due to SpaceX’s contracts with NASA and the Defense Department.
In addition to being the eye of the storm when it comes to politics, trade, and foreign policy, he now leads America PAC, a super PAC supporting Trump’s get-out-the-vote effort. Despite early struggles, Musk brought in new advisors and the numbers on paper have improved. Still, Republican officials question the effectiveness of the PAC’s ground game in key states like Georgia.
Musk’s frustrations with his PAC have led him to bring in private sector allies like The Boring Company’s Steve Davis. Additionally, his companies, particularly Tesla, face regulatory challenges that could be mitigated if Trump wins.
Trump has told Fox News, “Elon has a lot of roles he can play.” The former president has also suggested Musk could play a role in his future administration focused on government efficiency — a move that raises significant concerns of conflict of interest.
As the election approaches, Musk’s influence and controversies will undoubtedly remain in the headlines.
