Elon Musk has quietly funneled tens of millions of dollars to right-wing political groups in recent years, long before his public endorsement of Donald Trump earlier this year. The revelation, detailed in a recent report by The Wall Street Journal, shows that the billionaire’s financial support for conservative causes extends further back and is more substantial than previously known.
In 2022 alone, Musk reportedly contributed over $50 million to fund anti-immigrant and anti-transgender advertisements produced by Citizens for Sanity, a group whose officers are associated with America First Legal, the nonprofit organization founded by Stephen Miller, a close adviser to Trump. The ads were part of a broader campaign to push conservative viewpoints, with Musk’s backing proving instrumental in their wide reach. His financial involvement wasn’t widely publicized at the time, as the donations were funneled through social welfare organizations that are not required to disclose their donors, effectively keeping his contributions out of public view.
Musk has also donated millions to another right-wing organization, Building America’s Future, though the precise timeline and amount remain unclear. This group has primarily targeted reducing Kamala Harris’s support among Black voters, as well as airing advertisements attacking the Biden-Harris administration for their immigration policies.
The scale of Musk’s political spending came into sharper focus in 2023 when it was revealed that America Pac, a Super Pac started by Musk, had poured at least $71 million into efforts supporting Trump’s re-election campaign. Much of the Trump campaign’s voter outreach has been outsourced to this group, underscoring Musk’s significant financial role in shaping the political landscape heading into the 2024 election.
In addition to his support for Trump, Musk has also thrown his financial weight behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, contributing $10 million to his presidential bid. Musk had publicly expressed his support for DeSantis in 2022, stating his preference for “someone sensible and centrist” in the 2024 presidential race.
Despite these large sums, Musk’s donations have largely flown under the radar. Reports from Reuters and The Wall Street Journal have highlighted how discussions regarding these transactions often took place over encrypted messaging platforms like Signal, further obscuring the details.
