In Butler, Pennsylvania, a billboard declared “In Musk We Trust” while a Tesla Cybertruck parked roadside bore a TRUMP 2024 flag.
With just one month remaining in the presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump returned to Butler for a rally, following an assassination attempt three months prior that resulted in the death of a rally attendee. At this event, Trump was accompanied by X’s owner Elon Musk and vice-presidential candidate JD Vance.
The words “Welcome Back to Butler, Mr. President” were displayed in Trump’s introduction video. Upon taking the stage, Trump referenced a chart on illegal immigration, resuming his remarks right where he left off moments before the assassination attempt. The timing coincided precisely with 6:11 pm, marking the moment he was shot on July 13. Trump held a moment of silence to honor those injured or killed in the assassination attempt, during which opera singer Christopher Macchio performed Ave Maria. The audience responded solemnly, many removing hats, wiping tears, or taking a knee in contemplation.
Trump addressed the crowd, expressing that over the past eight years, adversaries had tried various means to hinder his progress, including slander, impeachment, indictments, attempts to disqualify him from ballots, and possibly even orchestrating the assassination attempt. He claimed, “12 weeks ago we all took a bullet for America.”
Following his speech, Trump invited Musk to join him on stage. Musk appeared, dressed in a black blazer and a shirt with the phrase “Occupy Mars,” topped with a black MAGA hat. Declaring, “As you can see, I’m not just MAGA, I’m dark MAGA,” Musk alluded to the Dark MAGA memecoin, a type of cryptocurrency, whose value surged around the time of his speech.
Musk urged attendees and viewers to register to vote, emphasizing the election’s significance. He wrapped up by stressing the necessity of voter registration, warning, “Get everyone you know, and everyone you don’t know, drag them to register to vote. If they don’t, this will be the last election. That’s my prediction.”
Musk’s participation signified an important development in his political journey. Following the assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Musk announced his full endorsement of the former president and revealed plans to establish a political action committee (PAC) in support of Trump’s campaign. Initially, Musk pledged to donate $45 million monthly to the PAC but later revised his stance. Additionally, Musk hosted a conversation with Trump on X Spaces back in August.
Previously, Musk had voted for Obama, Clinton, and Biden, contributing to politicians from both parties while asserting limited political involvement. At a 2015 Vanity Fair event, Musk expressed concerns over the prospect of Trump securing the Republican nomination, describing it as unfavorable and potentially embarrassing. He also shared with CNBC that he doubted Trump’s character as a reflection of the United States, instead showing support for Hillary Clinton’s policy platform during her candidacy. In 2017, Musk’s political donations, including substantial contributions to Republicans, hinted at a potential shift to the right in his political perspective. In 2020, Musk puzzled many of his followers with a cryptic Twitter post encouraging them to “Take the Red Pill.”