Elon Musk, the tech mogul and staunch supporter of Donald Trump, has stirred legal concerns in the United States with a contentious initiative. Musk has pledged to donate $1 million daily, up until Election Day, to registered voters in key states who sign a petition launched by his political action committee, America PAC. This petition focuses on supporting the Constitution, particularly the freedoms of speech and the right to bear arms, and is exclusively available to registered voters in states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.
The Legal Debate on Monetary Incentives
This initiative has ignited a heated debate over the legality of offering financial incentives tied to voter registration, a practice that may breach electoral laws. According to statements made to EuroNews by Rick Hasen, a Political Science professor at the University of California, the law explicitly forbids paying individuals to register or vote. Despite these concerns, Musk has pressed on with his campaign, publicly distributing checks, as seen recently in Pennsylvania, where he awarded the first $1 million to an audience member.
Despite legal uncertainties, Musk continues to champion his initiative as a method to galvanize support for constitutional values. The campaign also offers $47 to anyone who successfully persuades other registered voters to sign the petition. As legal experts continue to scrutinize whether these actions could be deemed a violation of election laws, Musk remains a pivotal figure in efforts to engage voters in critical states for the upcoming November presidential elections.
Musk's Expanding Political Influence
This initiative, like many others undertaken by the billionaire, has sparked both admiration and criticism, highlighting the growing influence of money in American politics. Musk, the founder of Tesla and SpaceX, is increasingly becoming a prominent figure in the U.S. political landscape, establishing himself as the largest donor to Trump's campaign.
Since July, Musk has contributed $75 million to the “Trump America PAC,” the Super-PAC supporting the former president's electoral comeback. This move solidifies the 53-year-old South African magnate's alliance with the MAGA movement (“Make America Great Again”), which he has bolstered since the campaign's outset. Although Musk had largely stayed out of politics in previous years, even clashing with the former president at times, he has taken on a more active role in recent months, surprising many political analysts as the November 5 elections approach.
At a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Musk joined Trump at a pivotal campaign event, where he remarked that the November elections would be "decisive" for the nation's future. "If Trump doesn't win, this will be our last election," Musk declared, emphasizing the urgency he feels regarding the United States' political future.
Federal Election Commission reports indicate that Musk's donations have steadily increased: $15 million in July, $30 million in August, and another $30 million in September. With these contributions, Musk not only supports Trump's candidacy but also positions himself as an influential figure in the country's political and social spheres.