Elon Musk is solidifying his commitment to helping Donald Trump win the 2024 U.S. presidential election, having donated over $70 million to boost the Republican candidate’s campaign. Musk’s donation will also benefit other Republican candidates in their races ahead of the November 5 election.
The donation was revealed through campaign finance disclosures released this week, marking Musk as one of the largest donors to GOP causes this election season. Over the summer, Musk contributed the funds to America PAC, a super political action committee he launched in May to support Trump’s bid to return to the White House. America PAC quickly became a key player in Trump’s campaign efforts.
“The America PAC is just aiming for common sense, centrist values,” Musk said Tuesday on his social media platform, X, after his contribution became public in the campaign finance filings.
Super PACs like Musk’s America PAC can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money but are typically prohibited from coordinating directly with the candidates they support. However, a recent Federal Election Commission opinion allows candidates and these groups to collaborate on “ground game” efforts, such as organizing teams to canvass neighborhoods and encourage voter turnout.
While candidates and political parties traditionally manage and fund these voter outreach efforts, Trump’s campaign has struggled with fundraising this year and has turned to outside groups like Musk’s America PAC for support. America PAC has emerged as a leading force in Trump’s voter outreach efforts.
However, by relying on external groups, the campaign has outsourced a critical function to untested organizations that operate independently. Some believe that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to rely on an outside group for canvassing contributed to the failure of his presidential bid.
To date, America PAC has spent over $38 million on voter canvassing, according to campaign finance records. A significant portion of the PAC’s spending has gone to consulting firms, including several tied to Phil Cox, a former aide to DeSantis and a former executive director of the Republican Governors Association. Cox’s affiliated businesses have received at least $21 million since August, the records show.
In addition to Musk’s sizable donation, America PAC has raised about $8.75 million from a few wealthy donors, including Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss. This year, the super PAC has spent nearly $80 million, with most of the funds directed toward the presidential race and at least $5 million allocated to support Republican House candidates.
Musk recently reaffirmed his support for Trump by attending his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on October 5. “As you can see, I am not just MAGA — I am Dark MAGA,” Musk said at the event.
