Business
Elon Musk Endorses President Trump for White House Bid
Elon Musk’s unexpected endorsement of President Trump for the White House bid sparks controversy and debate. Explore the implications of this surprising move by the influential tech entrepreneur.
Roughly 30 minutes after former President Donald J. Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, tech mogul Elon Musk publicly backed his bid for the White House. Musk, the owner of the social media platform X, took to the platform to share his endorsement and wish Trump a speedy recovery.
In a post to his nearly 190 million followers, Musk shared a video of Trump raising his fist and declared, “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.” This move by Musk, 53, marked a departure from the neutrality typically maintained by leaders of major social media companies.
Following the shooting incident, Musk intensified his political rhetoric with over 100 posts on X. When Trump announced Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio as his Republican running mate, Musk congratulated the decision, calling it an “excellent choice by @realDonaldTrump.”
As the presidential election draws nearer, Musk’s unequivocal support for the Republican candidates on X raises concerns about how their opponents will be treated on the platform. With his massive following and outspoken political views, Musk has the power to shape the platform in his own image.
Gita Johar, a professor at Columbia Business School who specializes in consumer behavior, commented, “He’s got a huge following and makes no bones about where he stands on issues and politics.”