Musk-Funded Right-Wing Political Non-Profit Started Years Before His Trump Endorsement, Sources Say

By Alexandra Ulmer and Rachael Levy

Elon Musk has provided undisclosed funding to a conservative political group in recent years, according to four individuals familiar with his contributions. This support highlights Musk’s financial backing for right-wing causes prior to his endorsement of former President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign in July.

Sources informed Reuters that Musk’s financial involvement with the organization Building America’s Future began in 2022, with contributions reportedly totaling millions of dollars. These donations have given a substantial boost to an organization that has actively criticized the Biden administration and progressive policies that Musk has publicly opposed.

The exact amount of Musk’s contributions and the timeline remains unclear, and there is no public documentation linking his finances to the group. Reports also indicate that Musk has financially supported other pro-Republican entities.

Musk did not respond to requests for comment, nor did representatives for Building America’s Future.

In the past, Musk has taken care to avoid any appearance of favoritism toward either major U.S. political party. Just months before endorsing Trump and announcing plans to fund a political action committee aimed at defeating Democratic candidates, he stated on social media that he was not donating to either presidential candidate.

His donations to Building America’s Future, however, indicate a shift in his approach to political funding, as this organization, classified as a non-profit 501(c)(4), is not required by law to disclose its donors. While these groups cannot directly finance political campaigns, they can promote political causes and are often referred to as "dark money" organizations used by both Democrats and Republicans to obscure the sources of campaign funding.

According to government data, revenues for Building America’s Future jumped from approximately $11 million in 2021 to around $53 million in 2022, the same year Musk reportedly began his donations. These figures represent the most recent available information from the Internal Revenue Service.

It is currently unknown if Musk continues to provide funding to this organization or the total amount of his contributions.

In recent years, Building America’s Future has launched several attacks against the Biden administration, particularly on issues such as illegal immigration. One of the group’s videos alleges that Vice President Kamala Harris has facilitated immigration issues at the southern border.

Additionally, the organization has started a $10 million advertising campaign aimed at decreasing Black voter support for Harris, criticizing the White House’s actions regarding menthol cigarette bans that disproportionately affect African-Americans.

Musk’s political views appear to have shifted to the right over time. Although he has previously voted for Democratic candidates, including Biden and Hillary Clinton, he has recently become an outspoken critic of the current administration, claiming it has not given adequate support to his companies.

Musk has garnered attention for propagating controversial ideas and conspiracy theories via social media, further reflecting his evolving political stance. Following his support for Trump, the former president indicated intentions to appoint Musk to a government efficiency commission if elected.

As of now, a political action committee Musk mentioned he is funding has reportedly spent $77 million on efforts to encourage voter turnout for Trump, although Musk’s specific financial contributions to this committee are unclear.

In terms of staffing, there are connections between America PAC and Building America’s Future. Generra Peck, a former campaign manager for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, is now a key leader at America PAC. Like Building America’s Future, America PAC has engaged in aggressive criticisms of Harris, including distributing flyers that feature disparaging imagery of the vice president.