Musk endorses Trump for President after assassination attempt

Soon after the attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to X to show his support for the GOP candidate – calling Trump "tough.” 

What’s happening: Former President Trump suffered a gunshot wound to his right ear while speaking to over 15,000 supporters on Saturday. The assailant, Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old kitchen worker, was shot dead at the scene by a Secret Service sniper.

• Minutes later, the news spread like wildfire in the media and on X (Musk bought the social giant in October 2022). 

• Later that day, Musk posted a video on X of Trump just before he was rushed off the stage by the Secret Service with text that read: “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”

• Both the Secret Service and the Trump campaign have confirmed the former President’s safety.

• Unfortunately, a member of the audience, former Fire Chief and father Corey Comperatore was shot as well and died from his injuries. 

Why it matters: Musk often criticizes the Biden Administration on his X feed. He also regularly trolls Democrats when discussing contentious issues – a clear sign of disillusionment with the party he once supported. In May, the Wall Street Journal reported that Musk and Trump were speaking on a somewhat consistent basis about immigration, EVs, the U.S. Space Force, and a potential advisory role for Musk. 

On top of that: Last Friday, Bloomberg reported Musk donated a significant sum to America PAC, a group supporting Donald Trump's presidential bid. Although the exact amount remains unknown for now, the PAC is required to report its list of donors today. 

Flashback: Earlier this year, Musk acknowledged in an interview with Don Lemon that he was "leaning away" from Biden. "I've made no secret of that,” he added.

The big picture: Up until now, Musk has withheld his endorsement of any candidate in the 2024 presidential race. But Musk and Trump have a long history. In 2017, he resigned from two of White House business advisory councils after the U.S. withdrew from the Paris climate agreement. The pair also do not agree on the widespread adoption of EVs. Despite this, Musk’s endorsement and pro-Trump messaging will undoubtedly stir up more political fervor in a tense election year.

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