Reports from CNBC suggest that former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies within the National Committee are actively seeking to enlist the participation of Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as a speaker at the upcoming GOP convention scheduled for July.
According to insiders familiar with the matter, Republican leaders perceive Musk’s potential involvement as a means to garner support from his substantial following, particularly among younger voters, which has traditionally been a demographic less aligned with the Republican Party.
It’s anticipated that Trump will secure his nomination as the Republican presidential candidate during the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, setting the stage for a rematch with President Joe Biden in the forthcoming November elections.
The revelation of Musk’s possible speaking role surfaced following a reported meeting between Musk, Trump, and a group of affluent Republican donors in Palm Beach, Florida. However, it remains unclear if Trump or his associates have formally broached the idea with Musk himself.
Notably, this gathering preceded Trump’s significant victories in the Super Tuesday primaries, prompting his final major challenger, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, to withdraw from the nomination race.
Individuals privy to these discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed details surrounding the potential invitation extended to Musk to address the convention. The inclination towards inviting Musk has reportedly been discussed with Ronna McDaniel, the former RNC chair, who resigned from her position during the committee’s recent meeting in Houston.
With Michael Whatley assuming the role of the new RNC chair and Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law, as the new co-chair, it’s speculated that both figures may support extending an invitation to Musk.
Requests for comments from representatives of Trump, the RNC, and Musk remained unanswered at the time of reporting, leaving uncertainty regarding Musk’s potential attendance at the convention.
Despite Musk’s considerable wealth, reportedly nearing $200 billion, he stated earlier in the week that he had no intentions of financially supporting either Trump or Biden’s campaigns. However, advisors close to Trump expressed hopes during the Florida meeting that Musk might reconsider his stance and lend support to the Republican candidate.
Musk’s political inclinations have seen shifts in the past. While he previously expressed support for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ presidential bid, he notably refrained from endorsing Trump in his prior campaigns. The relationship between Musk and Trump has seen its share of tensions, particularly over policy differences such as climate change and electoral choices.
Musk’s increasing political engagement, notably highlighted by his acquisition of the social media platform X, has seen him veer towards more conservative rhetoric. His recent commentary, particularly on immigration and accusations against President Biden, reflects a shift towards right-leaning positions.
Following Musk’s takeover of X, he indicated plans to reinstate Trump’s banned account on the platform, a move signaling alignment with Trump’s political interests. This stands in contrast to Trump’s earlier declaration of eschewing X in favor of launching his own platform, Truth Social.
Peter Thiel, a prominent figure in the tech industry and a supporter of Musk, expressed reservations about financially backing Republican candidates, including Trump. In a recent interview, Thiel criticized Trump’s presidential administration, labeling it as “crazier” and “more dangerous” than anticipated, citing administrative inefficiencies and shortcomings.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the potential involvement of Musk in the GOP convention underscores the intersections between technology, business, and politics, shaping the dynamics of contemporary American discourse.
