Elon Musk held his first solo event to support Donald Trump for president on Thursday, calling for voters in the Philadelphia suburbs to register and vote early. The event, organized by America PAC, took place at Ridley High School in Folsom, where Musk addressed the audience for about 15 minutes before engaging with attendees.
The auditorium was adorned with a large U.S. flag, and many attendees donned “Make America Great Again” hats. Despite Musk’s encouragement, some members of the crowd questioned his push for early voting, reflecting lingering skepticism among Republicans about the practice, especially after Trump spent years criticizing it.
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Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX, urged the crowd to ensure they and their friends and family were registered to vote. He emphasized the importance of upholding the U.S. Constitution, stating, “This is literally the fundamental values that made America what it is today. Anyone who is against those things is fundamentally anti-American.”
JUST IN – Elon Musk holds a Town Hall in Folsom, Pennsylvania: ‘I haven’t been politically active before. I’m politically active now, because I think the future of America and future of civilization is at stake’ pic.twitter.com/E8Xapdyju8
— America (@AmericaOne76) October 17, 2024
During the question-and-answer session, Elon Musk was asked directly whether people should vote early in Pennsylvania. After a brief distraction from a fan and a child on stage, Musk reiterated that voters should cast their ballots immediately. The response from the audience was mixed, with some attendees shouting, “Why?” but Musk did not elaborate further.
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While Elon Musk encouraged early voting, some attendees expressed concerns about the integrity of the voting system. John and Linda Bird, who were present at the event, shared their apprehensions about early voting, with Linda noting, “Anything can happen…we’re planning on voting on Nov. 5.” Their sentiments reflect a broader hesitation among Republican voters, particularly those influenced by Trump’s previous claims of widespread voter fraud.
Musk’s comments on voting raised eyebrows, especially when he sarcastically pointed out the use of Dominion voting machines in battleground states, drawing a connection to conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election. Dominion Voting Systems later clarified that their machines are not used in Philadelphia and emphasized the integrity of their systems, stating, “These are not matters of opinion. They are verifiable facts.”
Elon Musk, who has recently increased his political engagement, stated, “I’m politically active now because I think the future of America and the future of civilization is at stake.” His involvement with America PAC has included a commitment of over $70 million to support Trump and other Republican candidates.
The event attracted significant attention, with hundreds of thousands tuning in via livestream on X, formerly Twitter, despite technical glitches that made the broadcast difficult to follow. As Trump and the Republican National Committee strategize for the upcoming election, they have opted for unconventional methods, such as collaborating with PACs like Musk’s to galvanize voter turnout among Trump’s base.
As the election draws closer, the effectiveness of Musk’s efforts and the Republican strategy to mobilize their supporters remains to be seen.
