Elon Musk has contributed approximately £59 million over the past three months to his pro-Donald Trump spending group, highlighting the billionaire’s crucial role in the Republican candidate’s bid to win the US presidential election.
Filings submitted by America Pac to the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday revealed Musk donated £11.8 million in July, £23.6 million in August and another £23.6 million in September. Musk remains the political action committee’s sole donor.
America Pac has quietly emerged as the primary ground game partner for the Trump campaign, handling the bulk of voter turnout efforts across battleground states, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The group’s presence of roughly 400 canvassers per state significantly outnumbers that of the Trump campaign itself and other organisations involved in voter turnout. It is also the only group aiming to complete three “passes” of target voters before the November election.
Should Trump win due to America Pac’s field operation, it could potentially increase Musk’s influence over him. Trump has previously suggested the possibility of having Musk in his cabinet during a potential second term.
A Trump spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
FEC filings show America Pac has thus far spent approximately £23.6 million – or 40% of its funding – solely on its ground game operation for Trump. The remainder has been allocated to field work for down-ballot candidates and mail and digital advertisements for Trump.
Musk has been increasing his personal involvement in Trump’s campaign. On Wednesday, he announced plans to travel to the crucial state of Pennsylvania for the final stretch of the election cycle to deliver “a series of talks”.
The billionaire’s personal political views appear to have shifted significantly rightward this election, after previously identifying publicly as aligned with the Democrats. He endorsed Trump in July and appeared on stage at Trump’s second rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, earlier this month.
This shift seems to have begun earlier than previously known. The Wall Street Journal reported this month that Musk has been donating to conservative causes for years, giving tens of millions of dollars to right-wing groups.
In 2022, Musk spent over £39.3 million to fund anti-immigrant and anti-transgender advertisements by a group called Citizens for Sanity. The group’s officers are employees of America First Legal, a non-profit organisation led by Trump adviser Stephen Miller.
He has also donated millions to another right-wing group, Building America’s Future, which has focused on reducing Kamala Harris’s support among Black voters. The group has also launched advertising criticising Joe Biden and Harris for their stance on border issues with Mexico.
Separate FEC filings on Tuesday showed that Miriam Adelson, the casino magnate, made a single donation of £74.7 million to another pro-Trump Super Pac, Preserve America Pac.
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