Elon Musk has emerged as the exclusive financial backer of a super PAC that was established shortly before the elections, focusing its advertising efforts on drawing parallels between Donald Trump’s views on abortion and those of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The organization known as RBG PAC was created in mid-October and received a substantial infusion of cash—$20.5 million—just one week later from the “Elon Musk Revocable Trust,” as indicated by recent filings with federal campaign finance regulators. This contribution was made shortly before a reporting deadline, which kept Musk’s involvement with the PAC under wraps until the disclosures were released to the public.
In the lead-up to the November 5 election, RBG PAC broadcast a television advertisement that highlighted Trump’s assurances that he would refrain from endorsing a national abortion ban during his presidency. The ad included a voiceover emphasizing that he is in favor of reasonable exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or threats to the mother’s life.
Justice Ginsburg was a staunch advocate for the constitutional right to an abortion. However, she did comment in 2012 that the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling may have taken an aggressive approach, a remark that could have influenced the ongoing debates surrounding abortion rights in America.
During his presidency, Trump appointed three justices to the Supreme Court who were instrumental in reversing Roe v. Wade in 2022, thereby enabling numerous conservative-leaning states to impose bans or limitations on abortion access.
According to the report submitted to the Federal Election Commission this past Thursday, the funding from Musk predominantly went towards digital advertising, mailing campaigns, and text outreach to voters.
This contribution represents just a small share of the over $200 million Musk has invested in the 2024 electoral cycle, largely funneled through a super PAC aimed at supporting Trump’s candidacy, underscoring the growing impact of elite financing in U.S. political campaigns and Trump’s prospective administration.
As one of the wealthiest individuals globally, Musk has dedicated millions to initiatives aimed at mobilizing voters to assist the former president’s bid for reelection. His political influence has been notably amplified by his transformation of Twitter into a platform—now rebranded as X—that caters to Trump supporters and the “Make America Great Again” movement.
Musk’s super PAC, named America PAC, produced advertisements warning that voter apathy could lead to Kamala Harris and her supporters claiming victory. The PAC also initiated a controversial voter sweepstakes, committing $1 million a day, which resulted in legal challenges before a court ruled that the initiative could continue.
The recent filing coincided with a trip to Capitol Hill by Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, where they engaged in private discussions with lawmakers about Trump’s DOGE initiative, aimed at revamping certain facets of the federal government.
Trump has appointed Musk and Ramaswamy to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, a task force intended to explore strategies for terminating federal jobs, reducing government programs, and eliminating specific regulations—part of his campaign’s “Save America” platform for a potential second term.