Elon Musk boosts support for Trump with cash incentive for petition signatures

Investment mogul Elon Musk has intensified his backing for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump by offering financial rewards to those who sign a petition in support of the candidate.

The tech billionaire announced he would give $100 (€92.2) to any registered voter in Pennsylvania who signs a petition advocating for free speech and the right to bear arms, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

In a post on his social media platform X, Musk stated: “Earn money for supporting something you already believe in... Offer valid until midnight on Monday.” The post links to the America PAC website, which is accessible only to U.S. users. According to Pennsylvania think tank FaceCheck.org, America PAC is a pro-Trump super PAC focused on increasing voter turnout.

Musk's announcement follows his first solo event supporting Trump, held under the America PAC banner on October 17 at a local high school in Folsom, Pennsylvania. During the event, Musk spoke for about 15 minutes before engaging with the audience, many of whom wore “Make America Great Again” hats.

The rally served as a call to action for early voting in the pivotal swing state of Pennsylvania, where Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris are vying for crucial electoral support ahead of the November 5 election.

Some attendees expressed scepticism about Musk's push for early voting, given Trump's history of criticizing the method. This week, over 300,000 voters participated in the first day of early voting in Georgia, another key battleground state.

As Musk took the stage, the crowd erupted in cheers, remaining on their feet as he emphasized the need to uphold the U.S. Constitution. “These are the fundamental values that made America what it is today. Anyone who opposes them is fundamentally anti-American,” he declared, prompting loud applause.

Musk urged attendees to ensure their friends and family were registered to vote and to actively encourage those who weren’t. When asked about the merits of early voting in Pennsylvania, he refrained from providing a direct answer, and a spokesperson later stated he had no further comments.

Trump has long cast doubt on mail-in and early voting, claiming it is fraught with fraud — despite evidence showing voter fraud is exceedingly rare in the U.S. This year, Republicans are making renewed efforts to promote early voting among their supporters, even as they face scepticism from those influenced by Trump’s false claims.

By Tamilla Hasanova