Trump Selects JD Vance as Running Mate, Musk Endorses Ticket
Minutes after Donald Trump announced JD Vance as his running mate, Elon Musk endorsed the two Republican candidates to his 190 million followers on X, formerly Twitter. Musk proclaimed that the ticket “resounds with victory.”
Musk’s Political Shift
Since the assassination attempt on Trump, Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has thrown his support behind the Republican Party, positioning himself as a herald of Silicon Valley’s rightward shift. Musk pledged $45 million a month to a pro-Trump political action committee backed by other wealthy tech elites.
Tech Leaders’ Political Engagement
Musk’s support for Trump breaks from the traditional political neutrality of major social media heads. Mark Zuckerberg of Meta and Jack Dorsey, former Twitter CEO, have avoided endorsing candidates, with Zuckerberg focusing on PR-friendly content and Dorsey making small donations without advocating for candidates.
Musk’s Political Stance
Unlike other tech leaders, Musk openly promotes his political beliefs, engaging with anti-immigrant content and opposing trans rights. He declared he would vote Republican for the first time in the 2022 midterms, endorsing a candidate supporting the QAnon conspiracy theory.
Impact on X’s Platform
Musk claims X will remain a “free speech” platform but has used it to advocate for Trump and amplify conservative narratives. The platform’s recommendation algorithm could promote his preferred political content. A Washington Post analysis found X previously throttled traffic to sites critical of Musk, and its weakened content moderation allows misinformation to spread.
Changing User Demographics on X
Musk’s ownership has made X more popular among conservatives, with a Pew Research poll showing a tripling of Republican users viewing the platform as good for democracy, while Democrats’ support has plummeted.
Musk’s Anti-Media Stance
Musk has become anti-media as journalists report on his personal and professional controversies. He suspended the accounts of 10 journalists who published critical stories about him and promoted conservative commentators who agree with him.
Global Political Support
Musk endorses other rightwing leaders globally, supporting Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, and developing relationships with leaders like India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, benefiting from their countries’ resources.
High Stakes in the US
Musk relies on billions in US government subsidies for SpaceX and Tesla. Trump claimed Musk pleaded for help on his subsidized projects and expressed support for the Republican Party, asserting Musk would have begged if asked.