Business

Musk donates ‘sizable amount’ to Trump-backing political group – reports

Billionaire Elon Musk has donated to a political group working to elect presidential candidate Donald Trump, according to reports.

According to Bloomberg, citing sources, the amount was not known but it was “a sizable amount” given to a group called America PAC.

Bloomberg reported that the PAC – a group that can receive unlimited contributions for political activity – is next required to disclose its list of donors on 15 July.

In March, Trump, who is expected to be formally nominated next week as the Republican Party’s candidate for the 5 November election, met with Musk and other wealthy donors.

In response to reports of the meeting, the South Africa-born billionaire posted on X: “Just to be super clear, I am not donating money to either candidate for US President.”

Read more on Donald Trump:
Donald Trump claims Biden is quitting election
Joe Biden declares ‘I am running and we’re going to win’

Donald Trump’s hush money sentencing postponed

In May, he also denied media reports there had been talks over a potential advisory role for him in any Trump presidency.

More on Donald Trump

Representatives for Musk, who runs electric car maker Tesla, rocket maker SpaceX, and social media company X, have been asked by Sky News for a response to the reports.

Biden campaign spokesman James Singer said that Musk knows Trump is “a sucker who will sell America out, cutting his taxes while raising taxes on the middle class by $2,500”.

“Joe Biden has been standing up to people like Elon and fighting for the middle class his entire career – and it’s why he’ll win in November,” he said.

👉 Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts 👈

In recent years Musk has more fully embraced the Republican Party, which has weighed on the reputation and sales of Tesla, the biggest source of his wealth.

Trump last month reiterated his pledge to immediately abandon the Biden administration’s “mandate” to support the electric vehicle industry.

But he added: “I’m a big fan of electric cars. I’m a fan of Elon.

“He does an incredible job with Tesla.”

Musk said they had “some conversations” and Trump is a “huge fan of the Cybertrucks” referring to Tesla’s electric pickup trucks.

While he has publicly criticised Biden’s policies on immigration and electric vehicles and even his age.

Articles You May Like

Embattled COP29 climate summit strikes last ditch deal on funding for vulnerable countries
The drive to win a Rugby World Cup three-peat binds the Springboks’ DNA
Russia accused of escalating hybrid attacks in Europe after telecoms cables cut
Police force makes ‘improvements’ in treatment of women including new rules on strip searches – but questions remain after Sky News investigation
Banana duct-taped to a wall sells for $6.2m at auction