Elon Musk recently took center stage in Folsom, Pennsylvania, for his inaugural solo event in support of Donald Trump, stirring up a mix of excitement and skepticism from attendees. The billionaire entrepreneur, known for his ventures in electric vehicles and space travel, wasn’t just there to promote Tesla. He aimed to rally the troops, encouraging voters in the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania to register and cast their ballots early. But not everyone was on board with this early voting pitch, as some questioned Musk’s motives, leading to some head-scratching “Why?” responses from the crowd.
The America PAC event, hosted in the auditorium of Ridley High School, saw Musk delivering his remarks in front of a large U.S. flag, a sight that undoubtedly warmed the hearts of many conservatives. Clad in “Make America Great Again” hats, attendees stood for Musk’s roughly fifteen-minute speech, a performance that would make any high school valedictorian envious. He thundered about upholding the U.S. Constitution, a sentiment that sent the crowd into a patriotic frenzy, validating their faith in traditional American values.
Elon Musk will be holding his own rallies across Pennsylvania from tomorrow night to next Monday.
Attendees will be people who have signed his petition to support the Constitution and have voted in Pennsylvania.
This is very cool. It's going to turn out many voters for Trump. pic.twitter.com/I5Icbbgqg7
— George (@BehizyTweets) October 16, 2024
Musk attempted to embrace early voting, aiming to mend the relationship Republicans have had with the practice. After years of Trump cultivating a storm of doubt about mail-in and early voting as vectors for fraud, it seems Musk is on a mission to flip script and make early voting a GOP hallmark. However, the audience’s mixed reactions suggested that some were still wading through Trump’s past warnings about the practice, raising eyebrows at Musk’s enthusiastic call to action.
One couple in attendance, John and Linda Bird, echoed the concerns rippling through the conservative base. They weren’t alone in their cautious approach, with John steadfast in his plan to vote on Election Day. Linda added a rational take, pointing to a practical concern that aligns with every good American: anything can happen on Election Day. With past controversies swirling around voting systems, their apprehensions reflect a larger skepticism that many Republicans are grappling with as the election draws near.
As the event unfolded, Musk couldn’t help but fan the flames of electoral conspiracy theories that have been controversial in recent years. He casually linked Pennsylvania’s use of Dominion Voting Machines to the supposed “coincidences” that plagued the last election, a jab that smacked of amusement even as it broached a serious topic. This cheeky remark displayed his understanding of the pulse of Republican sentiment, aimed at unifying the party around a shared distrust of the voting process, while artfully dodging the hard realities of voter fraud statistics that suggest such fears are more myth than reality.
While Musk’s enthusiastic support for Trump continues to resonate with his followers, the question remains whether this sentiment will translate into actionable votes. His super PAC’s plan to engage less active Trump supporters while the mainstream GOP attempts the same in swing states illustrates a unique strategy aimed at heating up what could be a chilling electoral climate this November. Musk, having allegedly poured over $70 million into the cause, might need more than just his celestial enthusiasm to blast his candidate to the stratosphere of victory—he might need to convince a few skeptics along the way.