Bond of Friendship: Elon Musk’s spectacular role in Trump’s election victory
By Victor Itodo Abuh
Many American celebrities and influential personalities came out openly to support Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in the 2024 US Presidential Election. However, billionaire businessman, Elon Musk, stuck out his neck for Trump through every process and used various methods to ensure an astounding victory.
Beginning of support
Mr Musk threw his support behind the Republican almost immediately after the assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania in July.
Financial support and influence on voters
As one of the president-elect’s most important backers, the tech billionaire donated more than $119m (£92m) to fund a Super PAC aimed at re-electing Trump.
He also spent the last weeks before election day running a get-out-the-vote effort in the battleground states, which included a daily giveaway of $1m to voters in those states.
The giveaway became the subject of a legal challenge, though a judge later ruled they could go ahead.
Presence during campaigns
The world’s richest man spent election night in Florida with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort as returns came in.
“The people of America gave @realDonaldTrump a crystal clear mandate for change tonight,” Mr Musk wrote on the social media platform X as Trump’s victory began to appear all but certain.
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Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election might revolve around traditional campaigning but it was also fueled by the strategic support of Elon Musk.
Musk’s influence extended beyond his social media endorsements and donations, effectively merging Silicon Valley with Trump’s populist platform and reshaping the dynamics of the election.
Musk’s financial contributions were substantial, with millions poured into America PAC, his super PAC supporting Trump. This funding boosted Trump’s ground campaigns and targeted outreach in key battleground states, especially those that had proved challenging in previous cycles.
Influence of Musk’s X platform
However, it wasn’t just the money that mattered; Musk’s control of X (formerly Twitter) played a huge role in influencing political discourse online and victory for Trump in the presidential election.
As Musk frequently expressed support for Trump and his policies on X, his platform allowed pro-Trump narratives to gain traction.
For voters, Musk’s endorsement carried the weight of an anti-establishment figure, someone who, like Trump, pushed against government regulations and traditional media. His appeal resonated with tech-savvy, economically-minded voters who valued Musk’s entrepreneurial success and vision for deregulation.
Ultimately, Musk’s alliance with Trump showed how tech influence and strategic financing could reshape the reach of a campaign, energising voters who saw Musk as a symbol of innovation and anti-establishment values.
Together, Musk and Trump built a formidable narrative of economic growth, free-market ideals, and a promise to reshape America’s tech and business scene, giving Trump the final edge in 2024.
Trump’s Recognition of Elon Musk
Trump’s return to the White House might also prove to be a win for Musk.
Little wonder at his victory speech at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Trump spent several minutes praising Mr Musk and recounting the successful landing of a rocket manufactured by one of Mr Musk’s companies, SpaceX.
Reactions of Nigerians
Musk’s public support for the president-elect has garnered reactions from Nigerians on social media who compared the scenario to elections in Nigeria.
They claimed Nigerian technocrats stay silent during such decisive moments, hoping to align with whoever wins, adding that Nigerian celebrities stay silent so as not to offend anybody.
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