Elon Musk Spoke at a Trump Rally, Referenced ‘Dark MAGA,’ and Urged Supporters to Vote

In Butler, Pennsylvania, a billboard learn “In Musk We Belief.” A Tesla Cybertruck parked on the aspect of the street sported a TRUMP 2024 flag.

With a month left within the presidential marketing campaign, former president Donald Trump returned to Butler for a rally lower than three months after the assassination attempt on Trump’s life that resulted within the demise of 1 rally attendee. This time, Trump was joined by X proprietor Elon Musk and vice presidential candidate JD Vance.

“Welcome Again to Butler, Mr. President,” learn a message in Trump’s walk-on video.

When Trump began talking, the identical chart about unlawful immigration he was referring to within the moments earlier than the tried assassination appeared on display screen. “And as I used to be saying,” Trump mentioned. He’d timed this second in order that it came about at exactly 6:11 pm, which was when he was shot within the ear on July 13. He additionally held a “second of silence” honoring those that had been injured or killed through the assassination try in July. Opera singer Christopher Macchio sang Ave Maria, and individuals within the crowd eliminated their hats, wiped their eyes, and some even took a knee as Trump regarded on solemnly.

“Over the previous eight years, those that need to cease us from attaining this future have slandered me, impeached me, indicted me, tried to throw me off the poll, and who is aware of? Perhaps even attempt to kill me,” mentioned Trump, floating the conspiracy principle that the tried assassination was orchestrated by his political opponents. “12 weeks in the past all of us took a bullet for America.”

Trump later invited Musk on stage. The X proprietor walked on carrying a black blazer over a shirt saying “Occupy Mars” and a black MAGA hat. “As you may see, I’m not simply MAGA,” mentioned Musk. “I’m darkish MAGA.” Darkish MAGA is a memecoin, a kind of cryptocurrency impressed by on-line developments. The valuation of Darkish MAGA soared proper across the time that Musk spoke.

Musk repeatedly implored viewers members and viewers to register to vote. “This election is a very powerful election of our lifetime,” mentioned Musk. “That is no abnormal election.”

He wrapped up his transient speech with an ominous message: “Get everybody you understand, and everybody you do not know, drag them to register to vote,” he mentioned. “In the event that they don’t, this would be the final election. That’s my prediction.”

Musk’s look at Saturday’s rally marked a main benchmark in his political evolution. Following the assassination try towards Trump in Butler, Musk posted on X that he had decided to “fully endorse” the former president, and shortly after introduced the creation of a political action committee (PAC) to help Trump’s marketing campaign. Musk initially mentioned he would donate $45 million per month to the PAC, although he has since modified his tune. Musk additionally hosted Trump for a glitchy live conversation on X Areas in August.

Musk was beforehand an Obama, Clinton and Biden voter who donated to politicians on each side of the aisle however touted himself as somebody who usually tried to keep out of politics. At a 2015 Vanity Fair event, Musk mentioned he hoped Trump wouldn’t clinch the Republican nomination for president as a result of “that wouldn’t be good” and “could be a bit embarrassing.” He additionally told CNBC that he didn’t consider Trump had the “kind of character that displays nicely on the USA” whereas voicing help for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s coverage platform. In 2017, Musk donated large sums to Republicans, signaling a potential right-ward shift in his political outlook. And in 2020, he bamboozled a lot of his followers with a cryptic Twitter put up: “Take the Purple Capsule.”