At what was reportedly his first appearance at a Trump rally, Elon Musk took the stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, wearing a “dark MAGA” hat and excitedly urged the crowd, “Register to vote!” on Oct. 5. This marked the beginning of Musk’s deeper involvement in Pennsylvania’s political landscape ahead of the 2024 election, aligning himself with Donald Trump in a state widely recognized as key to securing a win.
As Election Day approaches, the SpaceX CEO has ramped up his efforts in Pennsylvania, turning a Pittsburgh “war room” into the hub of his pro-Trump strategy. According to The New York Times, Musk has assembled a team of lawyers, PR professionals, and canvassing experts, applying his entrepreneurial mindset to support Trump’s campaign in this critical battleground state.
Musk’s involvement extends beyond his campaign headquarters. He has proposed a bus tour across Pennsylvania to engage voters directly, emphasizing grassroots campaigning and his financial investments. His political action committee (PAC), America PAC, is funding a petition drive where he plans to spend up to $47 million. The petition, open only to swing state voters, pledges support for the First and Second Amendments and aims to register 1 million voters in states like Pennsylvania. Those who sign receive $47 for every new registered voter they refer before the petition closes on Oct. 21. The first payments went out in Philadelphia on Oct. 7.
Musk’s political shift to Trump is accelerating
At a rally in Scranton, Trump praised Musk’s efforts, calling him “fantastic” and noting his growing involvement in the campaign. Musk has publicly voiced his support for Trump through various channels, including hosting an unfiltered X Spaces conversation with the former president in August. Musk has pointed to Trump’s resilience following a July assassination attempt as part of his rationale for endorsing him.
Musk’s shift from a former Democratic voter who once waited hours to shake hands with Barack Obama to a prominent conservative figure has been notable. He has increasingly shared right-wing conspiracy theories on X, some of which have drawn backlash. For example, in September, he posted a video that vilified Haitian immigrants in Pennsylvania, echoing Trump’s unfounded claims that the community was draining local resources and increasing crime. He has also faced criticism over X’s artificial intelligence assistant, Grok, spreading misinformation about Vice President Kamala Harris’ status on the November ballot, leading to a rebuke from Pennsylvania officials.
Despite his political shift, Musk has been highlighting his ties to Pennsylvania, where he attended the University of Pennsylvania. He’s reconnected with his Keystone State roots, attending a Steelers game and waving the “Terrible Towel,” while also sharing a recent phone call with Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro about potential investments in the state—though, according to Musk, politics were not discussed.
