X, Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink CEO Elon Musk dropped another bombshell on Tuesday regarding a role in a potential new Trump administration. Musk has expressed openness to taking on a cabinet or advisory role if former President Donald Trump were to return to the White House in January.
In a recent interview with Reuters, Trump expressed openness to a role for Musk either in his cabinet or an an advisor. “I certainly would, if he would do it, I certainly would. He’s a brilliant guy,” Trump said. Within hours, Musk took to X to state that he would be open to the idea. “I am ready to serve,” he wrote. The post included an AI-generated photo of Musk standing over a podium with the name “Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.),” a reference to a cryptocurrency asset he has long supported.
Musk, who voted for Joe Biden in 2020, has increasingly supported right-leaning causes in recent years. His support for Trump intensified following the attempted assassination on July 13, leading Musk to endorse Trump and pledge millions of dollars to pro-Trump political action committees.
Earlier this month, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to announce a “major” interview on X Spaces with Musk. “This will break the internet for sure,” one X user posted upon hearing the news. “The Elon Musk and Donald Trump interview will be the most important interview of our time,” said another X user. “This is going to be epic,” another noted. “This is gonna save humanity. Happy to be a part of it,” another supporter wrote.
Indeed, the nearly two-hour event got off to a slow start due to what Musk described as a DDOS – a denial of service – attack.
Meanwhile, a Super PAC, co-founded by Elon Musk, is allocating millions for data collection and canvassing in battleground states to secure Donald Trump’s election in November. America PAC, co-founded by Elon Musk, had previously flown under the radar until recent media coverage brought attention to its distinctive initiatives and prominent supporters.
In a July interview with Jordan Peterson, Musk highlighted the PAC’s activities, noting that it has spent over $20 million since June, according to FEC filings. Besides Musk, notable investors include Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, Joe Lonsdale, and Doug Leone.
One ad run by the PAC aimed at encouraging voter registration features footage of the attempted assassination of Trump on July 13. In the ad, a person sends the video to a friend with a message urging them to register to vote. The friend then receives instructions on how to register, CNBC reported. The ad also promotes the America PAC website, but registration results have been different depending on the state. In states like California, users were directed straight to a basic registration form. However, in battleground states such as Pennsylvania, users were presented with a more detailed form requesting personal information, but no registration form was ultimately provided.
The America PAC website posted a message around Aug. 7 stating that it was “brought” to its attention that not every user has been completing the voter registration process. “It was brought to our attention on August 2 that some people may have been unable to complete the registration process on this website on August 1 and 2. If you had any difficulty, please try to complete the registration process again or email [email protected] for assistance,” the message states.
America PAC’s focus on collecting personal information rather than just registering voters stems from its strategy of door-to-door canvassing to promote Trump. This approach may prove effective as the election nears. The rules governing canvassing for Super PACs provide greater flexibility for these groups to coordinate with campaigns. According to a March FEC advisory opinion, canvassing is not considered direct communication between PACs and campaigns, allowing for greater coordination on literature and messaging during door-to-door efforts.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.