In a unprecedented twist that has upended an already unpredictable election, the world’s richest man has turn out to be Donald Trump’s most influential supporter in his bid to return to the White House.

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Here are 5 methods South Africa-born Elon Musk is wielding his outsized affect to assist Trump win the election in opposition to Kamala Harris:

Financial powerhouse

Musk established the America political motion committee, or Super PAC, in July with the first aim of supporting Trump’s marketing campaign and the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) motion.

The Super PAC, which swimming pools marketing campaign contributions for election-related causes, has obtained roughly $75 million from Musk over the past three months alone and sure extra since.

America PAC has shortly turn out to be one of many largest pro-Trump organisations, specializing in Republican voter turnout in seven essential swing states.

The organisation has launched controversial initiatives, together with money incentives for voters who refer others to signal a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments that shield free speech and the suitable to bear arms.

It has additionally launched a every day $1 million lottery prize for random petition signatories in swing states.

These uncommon schemes have sparked authorized debates. While some consultants argue they violate US electoral legislation prohibiting cost for voter registration, others preserve their legality.

Philadelphia’s chief prosecutor this week filed a lawsuit difficult the prize provide as an “illegal lottery scheme.”

Although a decide ordered Musk to look in court docket, his attorneys filed a “motion of removal,” transferring the case to federal jurisdiction pending a choice.

Hit the path

Unlike most billionaire backers who stay within the shadows, Musk has emerged as Donald Trump’s most distinguished movie star endorser, making frequent marketing campaign appearances.

His first joint look with Trump occurred on October 6 in Butler, Pennsylvania – the location of July’s assassination try on the previous president.

During the rally, Musk delivered an impassioned speech warning that “this will be the last election” if Trump doesn’t win, claiming Democrats would take management of the nation.

At New York’s Madison Square Garden, Musk declared to hundreds, “I’m not just MAGA, I’m dark Gothic MAGA.”

He has additionally carried out solo city corridor occasions, together with a three-hour Q&A session in Pennsylvania that drew hundreds.

Government cuts

Trump has promised to nominate Musk as head of a brand new “department of government efficiency”, or DOGE – sharing its identify with Musk’s cryptocurrency.

This appointment would elevate vital battle of curiosity considerations, given SpaceX’s important position in NASA missions and Tesla’s dependence on authorities regulators, notably for self-driving know-how.

And SpaceX’s Starlink performs a vital position in offering communication assist in warfare zones and catastrophe areas throughout the globe.

According to the New York Times, SpaceX and Tesla have secured a minimum of $14.4 billion in authorities contracts over the past decade.

At the New York occasion, Musk proposed chopping annual authorities spending by two trillion {dollars}, suggesting dramatic modifications to public providers, together with reductions in authorities pensions and retiree healthcare.

Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers criticised this method, saying governments will not be run like corporations.

“Respectfully, I think it is idiotic,” he stated on Fox News.

X at your service?

Since buying Twitter and rebranding it as X two years in the past, Musk has reworked the platform.

Recent research point out elevated visibility for right-wing content material, whereas Democratic and left-wing posts have seen decreased engagement.

A Washington Post evaluation revealed that Republican accounts are posting extra ceaselessly and gaining extra followers below Musk’s possession.

White House officers have expressed concern about their diminished attain throughout potential crises, with their common submit views dropping from 200 000 to 100 000.

While this could possibly be attributed to person exodus following Musk’s takeover, algorithm changes can also play a task.

The Wall Street Journal’s investigation discovered that even accounts following solely nonpolitical topics obtained predominantly conservative and election-related content material, contradicting X’s assurances to advertisers about nonpolitical content material publicity.

Misinformation megaphone

Musk has used his account of greater than 200 million followers to advertise Trump’s platform, notably relating to immigration and transgender points.

He has additionally unfold debunked conspiracy theories about rigged voting machines – arguments the Donald Trump marketing campaign will leverage if defeated.

A New York Times evaluation of Musk’s X posts over 5 days final month discovered practically one-third of his 171 posts contained false data or lacked context.

He has amplified conspiracy theories, together with assertions that Democrats are “importing” migrants for voting functions and false tales about immigrants from Haiti.

According to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, Musk’s false or deceptive election claims on X gathered practically 1.2 billion views in only a few months this 12 months.

Who’s your cash on: Donald Trump or Kamala Harris?

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By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse