Elon Musk Recruiting Billionaires to Vote for Trump-Vance

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Key Takeaways

  • Elon Musk endorses Trump and Vance on social media and contacts tech billionaires for support.
  • Musk's support increased after an assassination attempt on Trump, showing his dissatisfaction with the current Democratic administration.
  • Experts warn Musk's political stance might alienate some customers and lead to potential regulatory issues for his businesses.

Elon Musk actively supports Trump and Vance, asking tech billionaires for backing. His political involvement sparks debate and controversy.

Elon Musk is not just endorsing the Trump-Vance ticket on his social media platform X. He’s actively trying to get his fellow tech billionaires to support the Republican duo. 

Using his influence and network, Musk has contacted influential figures like early OpenAI backer Vinod Khosla, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, and LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman on X to convince them to support Trump and Vance. 

This bold move comes after an assassination attempt on Trump, making Musk’s public and controversial political support even stronger.

Elon Musk Calls Out for Trump Support

Musk has been very active on his social media platform X, supporting the Trump-Vance team and highlighting their potential to promote individual freedoms and meritocracy.

Beyond social media, Musk has taken a direct approach by reaching out to influential tech billionaires. He has contacted notable figures such as early OpenAI backer Vinod Khosla, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, and LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman on X to convince them to support Trump and Vance. 

Khosla and Hastings were calling for the Democratic Party to pick a suitable replacement for Biden when Musk jumped in and made a pitch for the Trump-Vance ticket.

Musk made a similar appeal to Hoffman after he praised Biden for stepping down. 

Khosla did not agree with Musk’s push for Trump, asking if he was willing to forgive him for trying to subvert democracy on January 6, 2021.

What’s Behind Elon Musk’s decision

Elon Musk’s support for Trump and Vance comes at a critical time. The endorsement came shortly after an assassination attempt on Trump on July 13, which seemed to strengthen Musk’s support further.

Musk’s backing of the Trump-Vance team shows his dissatisfaction with the current Democratic administration and a belief in the Republican party’s approach to governance.

Musk’s political involvement is not without controversy. His public support and criticisms, especially his remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris, have sparked significant debate. 

It’s worth noting that Musk referred to a video of Harris from July 2022, when she presided over a meeting of disability advocates. Her words were intended to accommodate visually impaired meeting attendees.

Expert Opinions

Political communication experts like Daniel Hallin and Jonathan Aronson have given their views on Elon Musk’s endorsement of the Trump-Vance ticket. 

Hallin, a professor emeritus at UC San Diego, told Business Insider that it’s not unusual for billionaires to get involved in politics because money plays a vital role in elections. He thinks Musk sees Trump as someone who will support billionaires by keeping taxes low and reducing regulations. This is likely why Musk is so vocal in his support for Trump.

Jonathan Aronson, a communications professor at USC Annenberg, offers another view. He explains that Musk supports Trump because he dislikes government regulation. He believes Trump, who is lenient towards big businesses, aligns well with Musk’s interests. 

However, both experts agree that Musk’s political involvement carries risks for his businesses. Hallin points out that Musk’s partisan stance might not significantly sway voters but could harm his business interests by alienating customers who disagree with his political views. Aronson adds that while Musk’s support may help Trump’s campaign, it could also lead to regulatory backlash against Musk’s companies in the future.