Behind the certain: Elon Musk exposed as Republican's 'biggest donor'

The US presidential election is set for Nov. 5. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has long been secretly donating to the Republican Party (GOP), making him one of its largest and most influential donors.

In July of this year, Musk publicly announced his support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. However, The Wall Street Journal revealed on Wednesday (Oct. 2) that Musk had already been a key financial backer of the GOP for several years.

The report claims Musk had quietly donated tens of millions of dollars to organizations linked to former Trump adviser Stephen Miller, as well as to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' campaign.

In the fall of 2022, Musk contributed over US$50 million (approximately HK$390 million) to fund a group called "Citizens for Sanity." Just days before the midterm elections, the group launched a barrage of ads in key swing states, attacking Democrats on issues such as healthcare for transgender children and illegal immigration. The group's board members and senior leadership are reportedly connected to Miller's nonprofit legal team.

In 2023, Musk gave US$10 million (about HK$77.66 million) to support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's bid for president, more than half of which went toward "Never Back Down," the pro-DeSantis super Political Action Committee.

Besides, accoring to Reuters, Musk also began contributing to another Republican organization "Building America's Future" in 2022. While the exact amount of Musk's donations is unknown, "Building America's Future" experienced a significant revenue increase, rising from US$11 million in 2021 to US$53 million in 2022.

Additionally, The Wall Street Journal noted that Musk had been quietly aiding Trump's campaign efforts well before his public endorsement. In April of this year, Musk reportedly met with Trump and expressed confidence that Trump would crack down on crime and control government spending—two issues Musk views as paramount.

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