Tech billionaire Elon Musk has now donated around $119 million to support Donald Trump’s election campaign. By mid-October alone, Musk transferred $43.6 million (a good 40 million euros) to the America PAC organization, which focuses primarily on embattled states such as Pennsylvania. From July to the end of September, Musk donated around $75 million.
Meanwhile, America PAC continues with the controversial cash gifts of one million dollars per day to one registered voter. On Wednesday it was reported that the US Justice Department had warned Musk that the action could violate voting rights.
Musk had announced the daily cash gift until the election at the weekend. The campaign is aimed at registered voters who sign a petition. It’s about “freedom of expression and the right to bear arms.”
US election law prohibits paying citizens money to vote or register. According to Musk, the million-dollar gift is intended to bring more attention to the petition. However, critics of the campaign see a problem in the fact that only registered voters can take part. One could interpret this as meaning that the prospect of the money creates an incentive to register.