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Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest individual, contributed more than $70 million to support Donald Trump and Republican campaigns in the upcoming November elections, according to recent campaign finance disclosures.
As AP reports, Musk’s donation was directed to America PAC, a super political action committee he launched in May to bolster Trump’s bid for a second term in the White House. The PAC quickly became a major player in Trump’s election efforts.
"America PAC is aiming for common sense, centrist values," Musk said on his social media platform X after the donation was revealed in filings.
Super PACs like America PAC can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money, though they are generally prohibited from directly coordinating with candidates. However, a recent ruling by the Federal Election Commission allows some collaboration between candidates and PACs on voter turnout efforts, known as the "ground game." Trump's campaign has relied heavily on America PAC for these efforts as it struggles to raise sufficient funds.
So far, America PAC has spent more than $38 million on canvassing and other voter outreach activities, according to the disclosures. A significant portion of that money—around $21 million—has gone to consulting firms linked to Phil Cox, a former aide to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Trump’s reliance on outside groups for key campaign activities marks a departure from traditional strategies, where campaigns typically handle their own voter turnout operations. Some have questioned the effectiveness of outsourcing these efforts, as seen in DeSantis' faltering presidential campaign, which also relied on external groups for canvassing.
In addition to Musk’s contribution, America PAC has received $8.75 million from other high-profile donors, including the Winklevoss twins, Tyler and Cameron. While the PAC’s primary focus has been on the presidential race, it has also allocated at least $5 million to support Republican House candidates. So far, it has spent nearly $80 million this election cycle.
[Information sourced from AP]
