bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Reuters

Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, publicly endorsed Donald Trump for the first time in the US presidential race, calling the Republican former president “tough”.
Musk, the world’s richest person, posted the endorsement with a video of Trump with blood on his face pumping his fist after multiple shots rang out at Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Trump was safe.
The posts cement Musk’s shift towards right-wing politics and hand Trump a high-profile backer in his quest to return to the White House in the November 5 election.
“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk posted on his social media platform X.
“The martyr lived,” he wrote in a later post, citing a reported debate between conservative venture capitalist Peter Thiel and LinkedIn co-founder and Democratic megadonor Reid Hoffman.
Musk later posted a photograph of Trump at the event, followed by: “Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt.”

Musk and representatives from X did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Musk, who has been ramping up criticism of US President Joe Biden, has donated to a political group working to elect Trump, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing sources.
The South African-born businessman’s sway stands to benefit Trump, since Musk has one of the largest footprints on X with 189.5 million followers, meaning his posts can instantaneously spread widely.
Musk has said he previously voted for Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton as well as Biden.
However, in the last few years, Musk has espoused right-wing views, becoming a fierce critic of diversity initiatives, Biden’s immigration policies and complaining that Democrats had given a “very cold shoulder” to Tesla and his rocket company SpaceX.
In March, Trump, who is expected to be formally nominated next week as the Republican Party’s candidate for the election, reportedly met Musk and other wealthy donors.
In response to reports of the meeting, Musk posted on X: “Just to be super clear, I am not donating money to either candidate for US president.” In May, he also denied media reports that there had been talks over a potential advisory role for him in any Trump presidency.


In July 2022, Musk said Trump was “too old to be president and that Trump needed to “sail into the sunset”. Musk also said he was leaning towards supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for president in 2024.
Trump hit back, calling Musk a “Bull***t artist”.
Then in late 2022, Twitter reversed its ban on Trump shortly after Musk completed his US$44 billion purchase of the controversial social media platform, which he later renamed X.
Last month, Trump said he was a “fan of Elon”, adding “he does an incredible job with Tesla”.
Musk said at a recent Tesla shareholder meeting that the two men had “some conversations”. Trump is a “huge fan” of Tesla’s electric pickup trucks, Musk said.
Trump has reiterated his pledge to immediately abandon the Biden administration’s “mandate” to support the electric vehicle industry.
Musk’s support for Republicans and his antisemitic and other controversial comments have alienated some Tesla customers, weighing on the carmaker’s reputation and sales.


Canada’s leaders say Trump’s 51st state ‘joke’ isn’t funny any more

Mexico’s president trolls Trump, suggests US be renamed ‘Mexican America’

Trump may declare national emergency so he can impose tariff plan, US report says

‘Obamacare’ hits record enrolment, but under Trump 2.0, the future is uncertain

US presidential election 2024

Elon Musk endorses Trump in presidential race, calls him ‘tough’: ‘the martyr lived’

Elon Musk’s sway stands to benefit Trump, since Musk has one of the largest footprints on X with 189.5 million followers. Photo: Reuters

Trump with blood on his face, surrounded by Secret Service agents, as he is taken off the stage. Photo: AFP

Elon Musk donates to Donald Trump, tapping vast fortune to swing US presidential race

Elon Musk, co-founder of Tesla and SpaceX, speaks at an event in Beverly Hills, California, in May. Photo: TNS

Campaign items supporting former US president Donald Trump are displayed on Friday before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photo: AFP

Donald Trump hurt in Pennsylvania rally shooting; 1 dead, 2 others critically injured

Republican presidential candidate former president Donald Trump is surrounded by US Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Photo: AP

Bernie Sanders voices support for Joe Biden’s candidacy: ‘Stop the bickering’

US Senator Bernie Sanders speaks at the White House complex in Washington in April. Photo: Reuters

US President Joe Biden (right) walks with US Senator Bernie Sanders across the South Lawn of the White House in April. Photo: AFP

Joe Biden’s age in perspective – at 81, China’s oldest imperial ruler gave up the throne

Viewers of the first US presidential election debate (above) were left concerned by Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden’s apparent dotage. At his age, 81, China’s oldest imperial ruler was stepping down, not taking power. Photo: Reuters

US President Joe Biden looks down as he participates in the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections with former president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

Donald Trump and Joe Biden during the first televised debate of 2024 between US presidential election candidates. It is questionable whether such debates are the best gauge of suitability for office. Photo: AP

A portrait of Tang dynasty Empress Wu Zetian, the oldest person to ascend the Chinese imperial throne. She was the same age as Joe Biden is today when she was forced to abdicate in 705 AD. 

Cut-outs depicting the presumptive rivals for the US presidency in a souvenir shop in Washington. Whichever of them is elected will be the oldest person ever inaugurated as president. Photo: Reuters

News

World

United States & Canada

US Elections

Musk, the world’s richest person, posted the endorsement with a video of Trump with blood on his face after the former president survived an assassination attempt


Musk’s sway stands to benefit Trump, since Musk has one of the largest footprints on X with 189.5 million followers, meaning his posts can instantaneously spread widely.
