Elon Musk’s endorsement of former President Donald Trump was met with backlash from the Democratic campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, who attacked Musk for his anti-worker stance. The Harris campaign, along with allies such as the president of the United Auto Workers, accused Musk of being a “self-obsessed rich guy” and reposted audio from a social media event where he and Trump laughed about firing striking workers. Democratic strategists see Musk’s endorsement of Trump as a weakness that can be exploited to motivate the Democratic base to work against Trump.
Despite Musk’s high-profile endorsement of Trump, the weeks following the announcement were marked by stumbles and missed opportunities. There were disagreements between Musk and Trump regarding financial contributions, a major staff shake-up at Musk’s super PAC, and a lack of support from other Big Tech donors who chose to back the Harris campaign instead. The Harris campaign capitalized on Musk’s comments about labor unions and used them to paint him and Trump as anti-worker plutocrats. Criticism of labor unions is likely to resonate with the Democratic base, particularly those in strong union states like Michigan.
Musk has a history of opposing organized labor and has been involved in legal battles related to allegations of anti-worker activity at companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and X. Trump’s support of anti-union policies has been criticized by labor union leaders, but he has attempted to maintain ties with organized labor. Musk’s endorsement of Trump has exposed Trump as being anti-union, which has the potential to alienate voters who support workers’ rights. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how effective Musk’s endorsement will be in swaying voters in the upcoming election, as he has faced criticism for his controversial statements and actions in the past.
While Musk’s influence as a celebrity and media figure could potentially sway voters, political experts are skeptical of the impact of endorsements in general elections, especially in a highly polarized political climate. Musk’s ownership of X adds to his potential reach, but the app remains relatively small compared to other social media platforms. If Musk’s endorsement does have an impact on voters, it may be among a specific group of techno-libertarian, young voters who are less tied to a specific political party. It remains to be seen how effective Musk’s endorsement will be in influencing the election outcome.
As Trump’s poll numbers have declined, Musk has shown signs of toning down his support, with reports of disagreements over financial contributions and a lack of appearances at key events like the Republican National Convention. Musk’s endorsement of Trump has been met with skepticism, with doubts about whether he will follow through on promised donations and whether the Trump campaign is organized enough to make use of any financial support. The impact of Musk’s endorsement on the election outcome remains uncertain, and it is unclear how effective his support will be in swaying voters in favor of Trump.
