PAC stands for political action committees, which are organizations to help raise money to support or oppose candidates in elections. Elon Musk is in big support of Trump, when realized that Trump was getting support from PACs then he funneled more than $75 million into PACs over three months, according to the reports on October 16.
Although originally from South Africa, Musk became a U.S. citizen in 2002 and previously voted for Democratic candidates. However, during President Biden’s administration, Musk’s relationship with the Democratic Party deteriorated. He didn’t immediately back Trump but instead supported Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the 2022 Republican primary.
Trump’s relationship with X (formerly Twitter), has been contentious. During his 2016 campaign and presidency, Trump’s tweets frequently made headlines, but he was banned from the platform on January 8, 2021, following the Capitol attack by his supporters after losing the 2020 election to Biden. When Musk purchased Twitter in October 2022, he reinstated Trump’s account a month later.
In a show of support, Musk publicly endorsed Trump after an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in July, posting on X: “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.” Musk also attended a Trump rally on October 5, sporting a “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) cap, aligning himself with Trump’s campaign slogan.
Why Did Musk Launch This Prize Scheme?
Musk introduced a prize scheme offering $1 million to raise awareness about the America PAC petition. In a video from a rally in Harrisburg posted on America PAC’s X account, Musk explained that traditional media outlets were not covering the initiative. “You don’t even have to vote, you just have to sign a petition,” he said in another clip.
Is Musk’s $1 Million Giveaway Legal?
Offering money to someone for registering to vote or voting is a federal crime, according to a 2017 document from the U.S. Department of Justice. Campaign finance expert Brendan Fischer noted that Musk’s plan, which ties eligibility for the prize to petition signers, toes a legal line. While not identical to paying someone to vote, it raises legal concerns.
Michael Kang, an election law professor, echoed this sentiment, warning that the legality of the giveaway could be questionable. Law professor Rick Hasen went further, calling the plan “clearly illegal” in a blog post.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed concern during an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, suggesting law enforcement should investigate Musk’s actions. While acknowledging Musk’s right to support Trump, Shapiro argued that injecting large sums of money into politics raises serious ethical and legal issues.
Has Musk Paid Out Any Money?
Since announcing the giveaway, Musk has already awarded the $1 million prize to two individuals. The first recipient, John Dreher, was surprised during the rally when Musk presented him with a check, as the crowd erupted in cheers. A second winner, Kristine Fishell, was named the following day, overwhelmed with emotion as she received her prize while wearing a shirt promoting Trump and his running mate, JD Vance.
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