In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk held a town hall event on Saturday to rally support for Republican Donald Trump. During his remarks, Musk downplayed the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, urging his supporters to vote early in the crucial swing state. He described mail-in ballots as “a recipe for fraud,” stirring a debate about election integrity.
This vibrant gathering took place at a downtown hotel ballroom and addressed a multitude of subjects, ranging from advancements in space travel and the Tesla cybertruck to discussions on immigration and the effectiveness of psychiatric medications. Musk’s appearance was part of his super PAC’s initiative to bolster Trump’s candidacy as the November 5 presidential election approaches, where Trump is set to face off against Democrat Kamala Harris.
For nearly two hours, Musk engaged with attendees, addressing a wide array of topics. While most questions were positive, one participant directed a pointed concern towards Musk regarding the potential for Trump’s presidency to threaten democratic principles, particularly in light of his involvement in the January 6 events. Musk, acknowledging the validity of the inquiry, dismissed the characterization of the insurrection, claiming the attack was inaccurately portrayed as violent. His response elicited cheers from the crowd, despite the fact that over 100 law enforcement officials sustained injuries during the Capitol siege as a mob sought to overturn the election results based on false claims of voter fraud.
Musk went on to assert that individuals labeling Trump a threat to democracy are, in fact, endangering it themselves, a statement that was met with approval from the audience. Many were in attendance at the event, with even more tuning in via X, the social media platform Musk acquired two years prior.
He noted that Trump had indeed called for non-violent protest on January 6, but also mentioned Trump’s encouragement to “fight like hell” against the incoming Biden administration. Musk has pledged over $70 million towards supporting Trump in this election and has been actively promoting early voting among his followers. However, he echoed some of Trump’s skepticism regarding mail-in voting, expressing that this method should be reconsidered post-pandemic due to potential fraud issues, despite existing security measures like voter signature verification across different states.
The audience’s interaction largely revolved around Musk’s innovative ideas, with less focus on the serious questions raised, such as the one about January 6. Throughout the session, Musk was repeatedly lauded for his futuristic visions and sought after for wisdom on topics ranging from tax legislation to sports team ownership, although he dismissed ownership of the Chicago White Sox, claiming his expertise remains within technology.
Musk also expressed his views on artificial intelligence regulation, advocating for a balanced approach, and criticized what he described as “woke religion,” referring to it as an existential threat. He emphasized the low U.S. birth rate as an urgent matter deserving attention.
When asked about his beliefs, he confirmed his conviction that Jesus existed over 2,000 years ago, and when prompted for the best advice he ever received, he suggested studying physics. In a lighter moment during the event, he presented a woman with a $1 million check, part of a campaign to distribute daily monetary gifts to voters in swing states supporting his super PAC’s constitutional advocacy.
For attendees like Josh Fox, a 32-year-old UPS driver from Dillsburg, the giveaways represented a compelling incentive. Expressing enthusiasm as he queued to enter the rally, Fox remarked, “That’s cool. It would be nice to have it.” Planning to cast his vote for Trump, Fox disregarded concerns regarding potential violations of federal election laws, instead framing the initiative as a push for constitutional support.