Tech magnate Elon Musk has publicly endorsed former President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign just moments after a shooting incident at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. The endorsement came as the former president was being rushed to a medical facility following the attack.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, took to his social media platform X to declare, “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.” This statement now confirms Musk’s stance politically, as he had previously maintained a degree of neutrality in the presidential race.
The incident at the rally resulted in one fatality and left another spectator in serious condition, according to local authorities. The shooter was also confirmed dead. Trump reportedly sustained a minor injury to his ear but is expected to make a full recovery.
Elon Musk’s endorsement was accompanied by a photo of Trump at the rally, with the billionaire drawing comparisons between the former president and Theodore Roosevelt, who survived an assassination attempt during his 1912 campaign. “Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt,” Musk wrote.
Prior to this endorsement, Elon Musk had been critical of President Biden’s administration but had not openly supported Trump either. In March, he stated that he would not donate to either presidential candidate. However, recent reports suggest that Musk may have made a substantial donation to a pro-Trump super PAC.
The tech entrepreneur, estimated to be worth around $250 billion, has the potential to significantly influence the campaign with his vast resources and large social media following.
Furthermore, in the aftermath of the shooting, Musk has also questioned the competence of the Secret Service, suggesting that their leadership should resign over the security breach.
His comments have added to the ongoing debate about political security and the challenges facing the upcoming election.