FILE-Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump offers his hand to Elon Musk backstage during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds on October 05, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy issued a warning to Republicans who don't go along with their plans to cut spending as part of President-elect Donald Trump's proposed Department of Government Efficiency.
There is a belief among Trump’s team that Musk favors Trump’s agenda and Cabinet appointments but is adamant on seeing them through to the point of pressuring Republicans who may be less loyal.
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During the presidential campaign, Musk contributed about $200 million to America PAC, a super PAC aimed at reaching Trump voters online and in person in the seven most competitive states, which Trump swept, the Associated Press reported.
According to the AP, Musk said he’s hopeful to keep America PAC funded and running. He has also used his X platform to imply that he might be open to challenging less enthusiastic Trump supporters in Congress.
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Musk also invested $20 million in a group called RBG PAC, which ran advertisements arguing Trump would not sign a national abortion ban even as the former president nominated three of the Supreme Court justices who overturned a federally guaranteed right to the procedure.
Additionally, Musk could help reinforce Trump's agenda immediately, some GOP strategists tell the AP, by using America PAC to pressure key Republicans.
The billionaire could also target moderate Democrats in important states and districts to encourage them to break with their party on critical issues.