Musk funded conservative groups prior to Trump endorsement: report

Musk contributed millions to right-wing nonprofit, Building America’s Future, that criticised Biden administration

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk quietly funded a conservative political nonprofit group before publicly endorsing Donald Trump, according to sources familiar with the donations.

Musk, known for founding companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and owning the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), contributed millions to a right-wing nonprofit, Building America’s Future, which has actively criticized the Biden administration and progressive policies.

As per four anonymous sources, Musk’s financial support for Building America’s Future began in 2022, well before his July 2023 endorsement of Trump for the 2024 presidential election.

Two sources stated that Musk's donations amounted to millions, giving a significant boost to the group's operations.

These included aggressive advertising campaigns against the Biden administration and Vice President Kamala Harris, a frequent target of Musk’s critiques.

However, the exact sum of Musk’s contributions or how long they have continued remains undisclosed.

Despite this financial backing, Musk had publicly claimed in March 2023 that he wasn’t donating to any presidential candidates at the time.

Reuters was unable to confirm a precise timeline or total amount of contributions or to obtain documents linking Musk directly to the group’s finances.

Musk and Building America's Future did not respond to requests for comment.

Building America’s Future is registered as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, a category that allows organizations to promote political causes without having to disclose their donors.

Often referred to as "dark money" groups, they are legally prohibited from directly supporting candidates but can influence political discourse through ads, social media campaigns, and lobbying.

Between 2021 and 2022, the group’s revenue reportedly surged from $11 million to $53 million, around the same time that Musk is said to have begun contributing.

The organization's messaging frequently attacks the Biden administration’s handling of immigration, one of Musk's frequent points of contention on social media.

Building America’s Future has recently launched a $10 million advertising campaign targeting Black voters and criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running against Trump in the upcoming election.

The group has circulated ads and videos claiming Harris "led the invasion" of illegal migrants across the US-Mexico border and criticizing her for prioritizing "illegals."

In another ad, the organization focuses on the Biden administration's efforts to ban menthol cigarettes, portraying it as an overreach and diversion from more pressing issues.

In recent years, Musk’s political views have visibly shifted to the right. Although he previously supported Democratic candidates like Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, he has since become critical of the Biden administration, claiming Tesla and SpaceX were neglected by the White House.

Musk has also denounced identity politics and propagated conspiracy theories on his platform, X.

In a sign of his growing involvement in Republican politics, Musk announced plans to finance America PAC, a political action committee aimed at defeating Democratic candidates.

The PAC, which has already spent $77 million on voter turnout initiatives favoring Trump, shares some personnel with Building America’s Future, including Generra Peck, a former campaign manager for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Musk’s financial contributions to conservative causes illustrate his growing influence in US politics, particularly as his tech ventures and wealth continue to expand.

As one of the world's richest individuals, his donations to dark money groups signal his shift from technology innovator to political heavyweight, now more openly aligned with right-wing agendas.

While Elon Musk has long projected himself as politically neutral, his financial support of conservative groups and public backing of Trump suggest a deeper involvement in right-wing politics than previously known.

His quiet funding of Building America’s Future, a major player in anti-Biden and anti-Harris campaigns, highlights his significant and growing influence in US political discourse.