Elon Musk was not always a Trump supporter. In fact, this shift in political views has been a very recent phenomenon. Musk has voted Democrat in every election since 2008. In 2014, the Tesla founder stated in an interview that he was "socially liberal and fiscally conservative." In a tweet published in 2018, Elon announced that he was a registered independent. However, by the time of this tweet, the media could already sense a change in his stance.
Last week, however, only 30 minutes after the assassination attempt made on Former President Donald Trump, Musk took a public stance on the 2024 Presidential Election. On X, formerly Twitter, the company that Musk purchased only slightly more than 2 years ago, he announced his endorsement for the presidential candidate. Since coming public with his views on this year's election, much more has become public about recent interactions with Trump's team. According to an article in the New York Times today, Musk visited Nelson Peltz in Montsorrel. There, he shared his views with other high-profile business persons, giving feedback about his opinions on political advertising. Rumors of donations to Trump's campaign have already surfaced.
Elon has undeniably swung more to the GOP in recent years. However, the magnitude of his switch has yet to be fully understood. According to the NYT, Musk said that if Biden won, America would see the end of democracy. This statement is very extremist. He justifies it through Democratic policies on immigration, but a claim of that magnitude should be very substantiated, especially coming from someone as popular as Elon Musk. If Elon decides to support Trump financially, which might not become public information, the former President would only find it easier to increase his political lead against President Biden. Especially today, as top Democratic donors call for Biden's exit from the race, a donation from Musk could cause a change in the White House. Regardless of a financial contribution, Musk's influence cannot be underscored. Today, he remains the most followed person on X, with 190 million followers.
UPDATE: Elon Musk has pledged $45 million per month to Trump's campaign. He is only one of a large number of rich donors aiding the Republican nominee's run for president.