Musk’s millions in rightwing gifts began earlier than previously known - report

Elon Musk has given tens of millions of dollars to rightwing groups in recent years, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, revealing his backing for Republican groups began earlier than was previously known.

Musk endorsed Trump earlier this year and has been a prolific booster of misinformation in support of the president's re-election bid on X, the website he owns. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that Musk had said he planned to donate $45m each month to a Super Pac backing Trump (Musk has denied the report).

But the Wall Street Journal's reporting on Thursday revealed that Musk has already been spending tens of millions of dollars to back conservative causes. In 2022, he spent more than $50m to fund anti-immigrant and anti-transgender advertisements by a group called Citizens for Sanity. The group's officers are employees of America First Legal, a non-profit led by Stephen Miller, a close former Trump aide.

Musk also has donated millions to another rightwing group, Building America's Future, Reuters reported on Thursday. The outlet reported the timeline and exact amount he has given were not clear.

The group has focused on reducing Kamala Harris's support among Black voters, according to NBC News. The group has also launched advertising criticizing Joe Biden and Harris for their support at the border.

A Super Pac started by Musk, America Pac, has spent at least $71m on the presidential election, according to Bloomberg. The Trump campaign has largely outsourced its get-out-the-vote operation to the Pac.

In 2023, Musk also gave $10m to support the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, in his bid for president, the Wall Street Journal reported. Musk publicly said in 2022 he would support DeSantis for president.

"My preference for the 2024 presidency is someone sensible and centrist. I had hoped that would the case for the Biden administration, but have been disappointed so far," he said at the time.

Musk's donations to the groups were kept quiet, Reuters and the Wall Street Journal reported. He funneled money through social welfare groups that are not required to disclose their donors. People involved in his donations to Citizens for Sanity would use Signal, an encrypted messaging app, to discuss the transactions, the Wall Street Journal reported.