The America PAC is a Super PAC (political action committee) created by Elon Musk with the backing of a number of prominent tech businessmen to support Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. The group's primary purpose is to finance canvassing operations. During its first three months through September 2024, Musk was the PAC's sole donor, totaling about $75 million.
| Founded | July 2024 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Elon Musk |
| Legal status | Super PAC |
| Website | theamericapac |
History
editAmerica PAC was founded to support the Donald Trump campaign during the 2024 United States presidential election. Backers include Elon Musk, Douglas Leone, Palantir Technologies co-founder Joe Lonsdale, Tyler Winklevoss, Cameron Winklevoss,[1] Ken Howery, Shaun Maguire of Sequoia Capital, and SpaceX board member Antonio Gracias.[2]
Musk said in an interview with Jordan Peterson that he has "created a PAC or Super PAC or whatever you want to call it" called "America PAC".[3] Musk was reported to have pledged to contribute $45 million a month to the PAC.[4][5][1][6] However, Musk has subsequently stated that the $45 million per month commitment never took place, and that the press has misreported his intentions. He further clarified that he will be donating to America PAC, but in a much lower albeit unspecified amount.[7] From its inception through September 2024, Musk was the sole donor to the PAC, totaling about $75 million.[8]
In the end stages of the 2024 season the Trump campaign outsourced much of the on the ground campaigning in swing states to America PAC.[9] In October, Musk seized the X handle @America to promote the group.[10][11]
Leadership
editFollowing a series of transitions in July 2024 veteran political strategists Phil Cox, Generra Peck, and Dave Rexrode took guiding positions in the organization.[12]
Efforts
editThe group has been engaged in voter information gathering efforts.[13] The efforts are targeted at voters in swing states and have included provocative internet ads featuring the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.[12][14] Ads have been targeted at voters in Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.[12][15][16][17] These efforts have faced scrutiny from regulators and other groups in those states.[18]
The group has set a goal of registering 800,000 new voters in swing states for the 2024 election.[19][20]
The PAC has employed canvassing vendors in battleground states. Blitz Canvassing LLC is contracted to work in Arizona, North Carolina, Michigan, and Nevada.[9] It had previously contracted with the September Group in Arizona and Nevada but cancelled those contracts in September 2024.[21] Blitz Canvassing LLC is a subsidiary of GP3 which is owned by the same political strategists who run America PAC, this has led to critiscism from some within the Trump campaign. Patriot Grassroots LLC has been hired to do work in Georgia and Pennsylvania. The Synapse Group has been retained to work in Wisconsin. America PAC is the only Trump campaign affiliated group to hire canvassers in all seven battleground states.[9] In Wisconsin America PAC has also collaborated with Turning Point Action, combining their canvassing efforts.[22]
Elon Musk 
@elonmusk For every person you refer who is a swing state voter, you get $47! Easy money.
October 6, 2024[23]
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In October 2024 the PAC launched a petition effort focused on the First and Second Amendments. They offered $47 per referral of swing state voter. Musk tweeted “For every person you refer who is a swing state voter, you get $47! Easy money."[24]
The PAC provided funding to Republican candidates in key house races including Mike Lawler, Ken Calvert, Michelle Steel, Ken Coughlin, Marc Molinaro, Tom Kean Jr., Derrick Merrin, David Valadao, Austin Theriault, and Joe Kent.[25]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Siddiqui, Faiz; Dwoskin, Elizabeth (15 July 2024). "Elon Musk allies poured millions into pro-Trump super PAC". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
Among the donors are former Tesla board member Antonio Gracias, Palantir co-founder and Austin-based tech investor Joe Lonsdale and Sequoia Capital investor Shaun Maguire. The rest of the donors include Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who pivoted to cryptocurrency in recent years. Together they gave half a million dollars.
- ^ Schleifer, Theodore. "Elon Musk Allies Help Start Pro-Trump Super PAC". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Sullivan, Helen. "Elon Musk denies report he will donate $45m a month to Trump Super Pac". theguardian.com. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Schleifer, Theodore (July 16, 2024). "Elon Musk Allies Help Start Pro-Trump Super PAC". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Mattioli, Dana; Glazer, Emily; Safdar, Khadeeja (16 July 2024). "Elon Musk Has Said He Is Committing Around $45 Million a Month to a New Pro-Trump Super PAC". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Legum, Judd; Crosby, Rebecca (18 July 2024). "The Audacity of Elon Musk's $180 Million Pledge to Elect Donald Trump". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Robertson, Nick (July 23, 2024). "Musk says he's not donating $45 million per month to Trump". The Hill. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ Ulmer, Alexandra; Levy, Rachael (October 16, 2024). "Musk gave $75 million to pro-Trump group, becoming a Republican mega donor". Reuters.
- ^ a b c Lowell, Hugo. "Trump ground game operation now largely run by Elon Musk-backed group". theguardian.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Lubin, Rhian. "X handle @America now used to promote Musk PAC that is pushing to get Trump elected". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ Kan, Michael. "Elon Musk Seizes @America Handle on X to Promote Trump". pcmag.com. PC Mag. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Schwartz, Brian. "How an Elon Musk PAC is using voter data to help Trump beat Harris in 2024 election". cnbc.com. CNBC.
- ^ Gavin, William. "Bug, or bait and switch? Elon Musk's super PAC website isn't working as advertised". qz.com. Quartz. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Novak, Matt. "Elon Musk's Pro-Trump Website Accused of Shady Data Collection". gizmodo.com. Gizmodo. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Schwartz, Brian (August 4, 2024). "Elon Musk PAC being investigated by Michigan secretary of state for potential violations". NBC News.
- ^ "The Broligarchs Are Trying to Have Their Way". theatlantic.
- ^ "Musk-backed PAC under investigation for potential violations of Michigan laws". reuters.
- ^ Woodward, Alex. "How Elon Musk is disrupting US elections to boost Trump". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Dorn, Sara. "How Elon Musk Wants To Pull In Votes For Trump In 2024—As He's Set To Interview Former President Today". forbes.com. Forbes. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ Mattioli, Dana; Palazzolo, Joe; Glazer, Emily. "Inside Elon Musk's Hands-On Push to Win 800,000 Voters for Trump". wsj.com. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ Lowell, Hugo. "Trump-allied Pac fires canvassing vendor in crucial states weeks before election". theguardian.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Allison, Natalie. "Elon Musk-backed PAC, Turning Point combine operations for Trump in Wisconsin". politico.com. Politico. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Elon Musk [@elonmusk] (October 6, 2024). "For every person you refer who is a swing state voter, you get $47! Easy money" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
{{cite web}}: Check|archive-url=value (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Fortinsky, Sarah (October 7, 2024). "Musk-founded PAC says it will give $47 for every swing-state voter referral who signs petition". thehill.com. The Hill. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ Solender, Andrew. "Elon Musk bankrolls outgunned House GOP campaigns". axios.com. Axios. Retrieved 12 October 2024.