by - Elon Musk joined Donald Trump on stage at a rally in Pennsylvania.
- Musk said election turnout in support of Trump is of utmost importance, otherwise “this will be the last election.”
- The event took place at the same location where a gunman nearly killed Trump in July.
Donald Trump has a new headliner: Elon Musk.
The billionaire owner of some of the world’s most prominent companies spoke at the former president’s high-profile rally in Butler, Pennsylvania — the same place where Trump was nearly assassinated in July.
On stage next to Trump, Musk warned that turnout in support of the former president is paramount this year or “this will be the last election.”
“President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution,” Musk said during his remarks. “He must win to preserve democracy in America.”
In a Trump campaign press release issued before the event, Musk was listed as an attendee just after Trump’s immediate family, but before his running mate, J.D. Vance, in an apparent nod to how important the campaign’s presence is at the event.
The rally took place at the same location, the Butler Farm Show Grounds, where on July 13 a gunman managed to graze Trump in the ear in what was undoubtedly the most dramatic moment of a historic presidential campaign season.
Immediately after the shooting, Musk officially supported Trump. Since then, he has been an outspoken supporter, especially through posts on X, in which he applauds the former president and criticizes his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, on an almost daily basis.
Musk attended a White House meeting with other business leaders early in Trump’s presidency. The Washington Post
But Musk and Trump haven’t always been so chummy. In 2015, Musk said it would be “a little embarrassing” if Trump secured the Republican presidential nomination. And in 2016, he said Trump was “not the right man” for the presidency. As president-elect at the end of 2016 Trump announced that Musk would join his economic advisory board, but Musk would later cut ties with the government over disagreements over climate change policies.
The two found some common ground in 2020 when they opposed COVID-19 regulations, but their feud intensified in July 2022. During a Trump rally, Trump called Musk a “nonsense artist,” after which Musk suggested that Trump would not run for president again. Trump retaliated, saying Musk would be “worthless” without government subsidies and that Trump could have left Musk on his knees begging for government support sooner.
Despite their on-off-off relationship, Musk has been fairly consistent in supporting Republican causes. Musk has donated millions to conservative campaigns over the years, including at least $10 million to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who ran against Trump for the Republican nomination. Musk endorsed DeSantis and interviewed him live on
The relationship between the two has now completely changed. Musk is now one of the president’s most prominent supporters. Musk has funded a pro-Trump super PAC, which has donated millions to Republican races and launched ads touting Trump as the only option to “save America.”
And in August, Trump said he would offer Musk a Cabinet position, calling him a “brilliant guy.” Musk said he would accept a post at X, envisioning himself being responsible for “government efficiency.”