Musk Refutes Wall Street Journal’s Claims of Massive Monthly Donations to Trump
In a recent development, tech billionaire Elon Musk has firmly denied reports suggesting that he is donating tens of millions of dollars monthly to support former President Donald Trump’s campaign. Calling the allegations a “fiction,” Musk addressed the issue during his visit to Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
“At no point did I say I was donating $45 million a month to Trump. That was a fiction made up by The Wall Street Journal,” Elon Musk told reporters. The Wall Street Journal had reported on July 16 that Musk planned to donate $45 million monthly to America PAC in support of Trump’s run. Despite Musk’s denials, the Journal has stood by its story.
The distinction between donations to America PAC and direct contributions to the Trump campaign is critical. While America PAC, an independent expenditure group, can collect unlimited contributions, direct donations to the Trump campaign are subject to strict limits.
Musk’s latest denial follows an interview with psychologist and author Dr Jordan Peterson, in which he reiterated, “I am not donating $45 million a month to Trump.” Musk emphasized that America PAC is “not meant to be a hyper-partisan PAC.”
However, records from the Federal Election Commission reveal that America PAC has already spent millions supporting Donald Trump and opposing Joe Biden during his candidacy. Prominent tech entrepreneurs, including Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, are among its contributors.
The controversy began when Musk endorsed Trump on July 13, following an assassination attempt on Musk’s life. Earlier this week, Trump himself boasted about Musk’s purported $45 million-a-month donation, seemingly relying on The Wall Street Journal’s account.
In his interview with Jordan Peterson, Musk stated, “What’s been reported in the media is simply not true. I’m not donating $45 million a month to Trump.” The interview, posted Monday on X, the social media platform Musk owns, further clarified his stance. Musk explained that he created America PAC not as a “hyper-partisan” group but to “promote the principles that make America great in the first place.” These principles, according to Musk, include meritocracy and freedom, defined as “the least amount of government intervention possible,” a condition without which “everything becomes illegal.”
The Wall Street Journal’s report, claiming Musk was planning to donate around $45 million a month to America PAC, was met with mixed signals from Musk. He responded to the article on X with a picture of gnus with human legs and the caption, “FAKE GNUS.” Yet, he also seemed to confirm the report by replying, “Yeah,” to a post claiming he is “pledging $180 million” to re-elect Trump, equivalent to $45 million a month from July until November.
As the debate continues, the exact nature and extent of Musk’s political contributions remain a topic of intense scrutiny and speculation.