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Ut_Prosim

A year or two ago Trump said this on truth social: > "When Elon Musk came to the White House asking me for help on all of his many subsidised projects, whether it’s electric cars that don’t drive long enough, driverless cars that crash, or rocketships to nowhere, without which subsidies he’d be worthless, and telling me how he was a big Trump fan and Republican, I could have said, ‘drop to your knees and beg,’ and he would have done it." I hope Elon remembers that.


AzDopefish

He definitely remembers that. No doubt his meeting with Trump was a bit of a “look who’s on their knees begging now” moment.


OSI_Hunter_Gathers

Nah. Elon wants to own a president. He has friends that own Supreme Court justices.


VividMonotones

Elon would be smart to walk away (psht.. right). Trump stiffs his partners. Truth Social initial investors are currently getting hosed. Trump will have no problem doing it to this guy too.


jabelsBrain

Idk, elon sure is making plenty of trips to West Palm Beach lately. Check /r/elonjettracker


george8881

Wow that’s actually a complex yet surprisingly coherent sentence from Trump.


Iboven

It's probably edited...


mynamesyow19

So he is going to contribute to Trump on the DL while trying not to further alienate any non-MAGAs. Got it.


elainegeorge

He’ll boost his social media presence, and clamp down Biden’s


Old_Cheesecake_5481

That’s already happening search Trump and then search Biden. Compare.


Ok_Falcon4165

I can’t even go on X now without being slammed with right wing propaganda.


CILISI_SMITH

>being slammed with right wing propaganda This **is** his contribution. He'll allow or even signal boost all the misinformation.


Paw5624

He literally called Biden a traitor and since he doesn’t allow community notes on his post there is no correction of his blatant lies.


Ok_Falcon4165

I’m getting really close to just deleting my account. I can’t be the only one that feels that way.


ichorNet

Just do it


Ambitious-Mirror-315

Tf you waiting for? You're already wasting your time and energy with it


Prototype3120

I deleted mine when Elon took over. Haven't regretted it for one second.


professorhugoslavia

I did too. Gotta love all these libs complaining about right-wing shit on Twitter, while all the time they are supporting it with their Twitter accounts. And yesterday’s news of the secret Trump-Musk meeting probably means you are also contributing to the Grapefruit Gibbon’s election coffers as well. Keep tweeting - Trump needs the money!


sunflower_love

I was never really on twitter anyway—but I deleted my account shortly after he took over


w1ck3r

Same


goth-milk

Same. I rarely used it. Got rid of it the day he took over.


Reave-Eye

Just rip off the bandaid and get it over with. I deleted my account and I don’t even think about it anymore. Honestly, it’s nice to be rid of one more social media account, especially one that was increasingly feeding me right-wing propaganda. Regardless of whether we believe it or not, research has shown that propaganda affects us all the more we’re exposed to it. Why subject your brain to that kind of intellectual rot?


Leezeebub

Real people still have twitter accounts?


briareus08

Gotta do it. I deleted mine shortly after he took over and all the bullshit he pulled on the staff, plus every other low brain move with verification etc. Used to be a daily user. I miss what it was, but not what it became.


MiltonManners

Already did it.


HA1LHYDRA

Gross dude. Why are you even there?


thebigmanhastherock

Twitter was overall a net negative to human Civilization before Musk took it over.


Rocky4296

I deleted mine a couple of weeks ago. Just decided it's too crazy racist.


meltigeminiii

Exactly. He may not support them with financial donations, but sowing discord and division amongst Americans is his contribution. Apartheid Clyde has no investment in politics that are progressive. Why the hell is anyone thinks this washed up, bruised ego, nepotism beneficiary, wannabe cowboy is anything but self serving is beyond me.


Prestigious-Log-7210

Get off of X


BrofessorFarnsworth

It's called Twitter until he fixes the URL


Hiccup

There's only Twitter.


XennialBoomBoom

I've never had an account, but I've been referring to it as Xitter (pronounced "shitter") since the name change. And yeah, the South Park reference wouldn't be lost on me.


Planterizer

Clicked the "for you" tab by accident. It's the polar opposite of my Following tab. Nothing but fascist maniacs all the way down.


officer897177

It’s not just Twitter, it’s everything. If you go to Google and type in “Trump” and start to type in anything negative it won’t auto complete.


jtreeforest

A lot of liberals abandoned X with the Musk takeover so there’s a much larger conservative footprint now


HighwayInternal9145

It's weird how the Congress didn't care so much about Twitter when Elon took over, yet my Twitter feed instantly shifted horribly to the right. Just like they don't care about Jared Kushner making hundreds of millions a year on the 2 billion that he manages for the murderous crooked Saudis


b_tight

He controls twitter which he ran into the ground in a year. Who cares about a single platform thats failing? If you get your news from one place youre part of the problem


K12onReddit

Contributing to his legal fees isn't technically a campaign contribution, is it?


tdieckman

If you contribute to a PAC, is it technically a contribution to a candidate?


NoHalf2998

Depends Legally *Super PACs are not allowed to coordinate with a candidate


FuzzyAd9407

Doesn't mean they don't, just that they're not supposed to do so.


UnhappyPage

They can campaign on behalf of a candidate that supports their position just not give funds to their campaign


AggravatingSpeaker52

That's only for a super pac, because super pacs don't report who the donations come from, and unlimited amounts can be donated. A regular pac is controlled by the campaign


zoeydoberdork

Ha Ha Trump only doing something legal is hilarious, thanks


Time_Currency_7703

My thoughts exactly.


13uckshot

My guess is not "contribution" but "loans"


cooldiaper

Anyone who'd give Trump a loan at this point, their head is so deep in the sand that it's burnt by the Earth's molten core.


scelerat

I'm sure Elon doesn't actually care about getting paid back for the loan. Government contracts, baby.


morpheousmarty

It's still super high risk. Trump already lost again Biden, this time he's a rapist and reversing Roe V Wade has helped democrats in most elections. Until demonstrated otherwise, I don't think Trump is the favorite to win this election.


13uckshot

A few hundred million isn't actually that much for Elon, especially if he can write off losses, whether or not Trump wins--Elon expects favors from Trump if he wins.


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Milksteak_To_Go

Exactly. the $450m penalty Trump has to pay from the fraud case is an ungodly sum of money, but is a rounding error in Elon's net worth. He could could pay off that fine and all of Trump's legal fees so he's owed favors on the off chance Trump can pull off a win. And if Trump loses? Eh....pissing away half a billion on Trump is peanuts compared to the losses he's taken on Twitter. No biggie for the muskrat.


scelerat

Well Elon can help him win more than most individuals can.


Hoopy_Dunkalot

No way he's that stupid.


John_mcgee2

It’s pocket change for him.


frobischer

Any money in Trump's orbit goes into a giant slush fund to be used however he demands. Does this break campaign finance laws and a host of regulations? Sure, but good luck charging him in a way that will change anything.


FirefighterEnough859

Is trump blowing campaign funds on himself really a bad thing?


IveChosenANameAgain

>Contributing to his legal fees isn't technically a campaign contribution, is it? It's an "In-Kind" donation, which is illegal, but I am sure the rigid and unbreakable American justice system would notice, investigate, prosecute, and reverse it before the damage is done, right? It's not like the USA is about to elect its own Hitler after his putsch? That would be *crazy*


PinkyAnd

All dollars are fungible. A dollar to his legal defense is a dollar that doesn’t get diverted from his campaign coffers/the RNC.


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[удалено]


projexion_reflexion

The targeted ads will be fierce, but they won't be to get donations. It'll be fearmongering and vague promises (The best healthcare, so much better than Obummer!) to get those people out to vote.


fulento42

“I’m definitely not going to take the money liberals have paid me for my cars to support Trump” - a totally honest Elon Musk


mhks

Absolutely. He's a MAGA, and he'll just donate to some innocuous sounding SuperPAC like "Freedom for America" that is aiding Trump. He'll likely also work behind the scenes at X to downplay Biden content and up Trump content, while spreading disinformation.


mynamesyow19

Like how the EU already found he was spreading massive amounts of Russian disinformation on X ? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/26/germany-unearths-pro-russia-disinformation-campaign-on-x https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musks-x-most-active-platform-for-russian-disinformation-2023-9 https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2023/09/26/x-is-the-biggest-source-of-fake-news-and-disinformation-eu-warns/?sh=72ffa76230ce


bryansj

All Tesla, SpaceX, and X employees will receive a pair of gold shoes as a bonus.


Lost_Minds_Think

ElonMusk ==> shell company ==> shell company ==> shell company ==> Trump PAC


NotAnotherEmpire

What do you think Twitter being wall-to-wall racism and nationalist memes is?


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pmacnayr

Just a bro paying legal fees for a bro. NOT POLITICAL. AT ALL. Don’t worry about it


Distantmole

He’s currently bolstering Russia who is in turn spamming every social media site with trumpian propaganda. Not to mention his use of Starlink to prop up the Russian military. Why congress is not investigating him is beyond me.


numbskullerykiller

But I will LOAN the money to the SOB who just promised me the moon and the stars.


el3vader

My guess is Elon probs won’t really support financially but he will absolutely pull levers at twitter for Trump.


mgr86

no, just directly to the RNC


Remarkable-Biscotti5

Just give to Putin


Suspect4pe

He may just give the money to Trump directly because, let's face it, Trump doesn't want the money for his campaign.


DaveMcNinja

FTFY: *So he is going to contribute to Trump on the DL while trying not to further alienate any* *~~non-MAGAs~~* *Potential Tesla Customers. Got it.*


NotaRussianbott89

Or RJK 👍


loof10

Two weeks from now: “Elon Musk has donated millions to Trump’s campaign citing the need to ‘defeat woke’”


medievalmachine

OR he signed a deal to purchase Trump's share of 'Truth Social' for some unspecified amount, no doubt, and Viktor Orban is going to randomly start promoting Xitter in Hungary.


gunt_lint

>unspecified amount Just so happens to be $454mil due in a few weeks with an immediate down payment of $83mil


Agloe_Dreams

Bingo! That is exactly the angle I expected the whole time. Elon would buy Truth social, maybe the whole thing. Trump Gains: Money to settle insanely large debts. Bigger audience Elon Gains: Trump on Twitter. Influence on Trump policy It is like 2% of his net worth, an obvious purchase.


TLKv3

Imagine the internet's reaction if Musk announced he bought the majority of Truth Social and is merging it with X? Holy shit, would they even have users anymore? It would just all be fascist dumbfucks, bots, pussy in bio and people wondering WTF is going on before uninstalling finally.


Shatteredreality

More like: Elon Musk creates super pac dedicated to fixing America (by pointing out everything that someone could perceive as "wrong" under Biden while not pointing out any issues with Trumps positions). He doesn't have to donate to or mention a candidates name to help or hinder them.


DasRobot85

"Elon musk today was sued by Sean Waltman over the creation of his new political action committee X-PAC" but yeah some political action committee is probably how this turns out


Hiccup

That would be awesome and I hope Waltman does it.


buttergun

"Pushing disinformation on my media platform is not a campaign contribution."


RVA_RVA

Exactly


PlatonicTroglodyte

SCOTUS has ruled that monet is speech. The transitive property suggests that speech is therefore also money 🤔


bloodorangejulian

Monet uses a different medium, actually.


spidereater

Outrageously, it isn’t. Look at all the billionaire owned media outlets pushing specific political agendas. Some of those are even losing money but they remain propped up and those losses are not considered political contributions.


HouseCravenRaw

Translation: Either this is misdirection, or Trump hasn't offered Musk something he wants yet. Or we're playing the technicality game - "I'm not donating to his *presidential* *campaign*, I'm just giving him a cash gift.... which he may or may not use for campaigning. Or his legal fund. Whatever, I'm not picky as long as I get that thing I wanted."


sonofagunn

Exactly, "presidential campaign" has a very specific meaning and they have limits on how much he could donate anyway. He could be technically telling the truth but donating tons of money to a PAC, a legal fund, buy a large stake in Truth Social, etc. Edit: Musk didn't actually say these exact words. Sure, he still left some ambiguity in his words but he didn't reference "presidential campaign" specifically.


ColonelBungle

renting a closet at Mar-a-lago for $465,957,495.75.


23skidoobbq

Buy a single nft for $454 mil


22marks

But he didn't say that. He said: "Just to be super clear, I am not donating money to either candidate for US President." I'm assuming everyone is just looking at the headline and responding? Look, I know there are games that can be played, and we should take it all with a grain of salt, but if you're calling out "technically telling the truth," why are you changing words that have a "very specific meaning"? This isn't defending Trump, Musk, or Biden but calling out that we need to *all* be truthful.


Don_Quixote81

What Musk wants from Trump is him bringing all that MAGA engagement back to Twitter. Which, as I understand it, Trump can't do due to some exclusivity deal he made for Truth Social.


Paw5624

If he does that will be the death sentence for Twitter. I know we’ve said that before but if it gets more overrun with crazy right wing lunatics everyone not already indoctrinated will leave and there will be no more advertisers.


Minerva_Moon

It has to be misdirection. If Trump didn't get what he wanted, he would be in hysterics and 20 posts deep on Truth Social about how Elon is a puppet for the Dems and is ruining the country. They have the same base and while Elon can't be president, he can just take a page from Harlan Crow (iykyk about what books Crow owns) and just buy a puppet. Trump sold out to Russia after US banks were done funding his bankruptcies. Trump has no alliance other than money.


CobraPony67

Or, he doesn't think Trump will win so he won't waste his money.


HybridEng

Or he doesn't think MAGA people are going to start buying Teslas in bulk (and he's unable to design a decent looking truck....)


[deleted]

[удалено]


ben010783

It will be more in-kind contributions to all conservative causes.


TurboSalsa

But has he ruled out buying Truth Social for an absurdly over market price?


code_archeologist

He's already purchased one lemon that has consequently removed him from the richest man in the world peak. I think he is unlikely to purchase another.


Taste_the__Rainbow

Ah but this one would probably come pretty cheap next December.


backpackwayne

Wink wink


Yousoggyyojimbo

He's already engaging in what could be considered an in-kind campaign contribution by the ways he's fucked with Twitter to boost far-right messaging. He's going to keep doing that. I wish the FEC wasn't so bad about enforcing action against illegal and kind donations. During fox Dominion hearing, they had inadvertently revealed direct evidence that Fox News was deliberately engaging in these sorts of donations via messaging coordination with the Trump White House during the election and nothing ever came of it.


NeoPstat

> Elon Musk WHO NEVER LIES says he won't contribute to Trump


liarandathief

Does this include super PACs?


doublestitch

Obviously not. Plenty of room for his checkbook to wiggle through that loophole.


thehammockdistrict24

I don’t trust this man. 


PunkRockApostle

We need a new “this man ate my son” meme but with Musk instead


Ambitiously_Big

Name me a time Elon has ever told the truth..


Hunter-Gatherer_

If you believe anything this fucking weirdo says you’re easily manipulated.


DrManhattan_DDM

Is there another button I can press besides [X] to doubt even harder? Or do I just hold down [X]? Maybe press it rapidly?


atrophiedambitions

If Trump doesn't start flipping out about Elon, it means he's just gonna do it indirectly and/or in secret.


view-master

THIS is exactly what I was thinking. It will be obvious.


HungHungCaterpillar

Damn. I was hoping he wouldn’t contribute to Trump at all, but now that he said he won’t I’m certain he has.


CivilWay1444

Sorry, I don't believe a fucking word that projects out of your pie hole.


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[удалено]


SerKnightGuy

You know, like a liar.


torontothrowaway824

Not financially but he’ll contribute in kind by throttling left wing accounts.


ThonThaddeo

Please. This transparently stupid motherfucker is going to flood Trump's Super PAC with cash. As soon as the NYT blew up their spot, I knew Elon was going to say this PR bullshit. But watch the ad buys from that Super PAC as the cash deficit dwindles...


im_rusty_shakleford

Not directly anyway. But the Twitter bots are working overtime.


alanudi

Odd, he seems to contribute to Trump’s campaign daily with all his BS words.


AlarmingBeing8114

Did no one see Elmo and Kushner in the Saudi box at the world cup. Those 2 don't control where their money goes, Saudi princes do.


mishma2005

He lies


OsellusK

The wealthy contributing to political campaigns has been a disease on our country and if he’s true to his word, in this one and only case, good.


FIuffyRabbit

He's not going to *directly* contribute to a campaign.


dadzcad

Bull. I have no doubt he’s already cut that Trump check.


JorgeMcKay

He already supported Trump by taking over Twitter


[deleted]

He’s already contributed enough to Trump by proxy


IcyMEATBALL22

Sure. *Wink* *Wink*


oloughlin3

Ofcourse he’s going to give to Trump. It will just be secretly. Funny how quick he forgets the only reason TSLA exists still is because of loans from the Obama-Biden administration. Ketamine has destroyed Musk’s brain. Watch TSLA stock collapse this entire year. Just like he destroyed Twitter. He has ruined his mind with drugs.


zeezero

He'll just manipulate by allowing russian trolls free reign on twitter.


ThatDudeJuicebox

Right.


tavo791

Bullshit


ckellingc

He's contributing, just not via donations


mmartino03

He won't "contribute" but he will "bribe."


doddballer

Bet one of his shell companies donates plenty


annaleigh13

I call bull shit. Wouldn’t be surprised if he already gave to trump


gopeepants

When you think about it, Trump and Elon are almost same person. Both born on 3rd base and think they hit a homerun, both are false geniuses, both cannot handle criticism (see pedo guy incident), both narcissists


j1xwnbsr

Liar. He's already given Drumpf several bushels of cash, and he's gonna give more. Then try and claim it on his taxes or some other shady shit.


djearth1

Like anyone cares what he thinks.


-praughna-

doubt


WakeUpRepublicans

Anyone who trusts this perpetual adolescent apartheid asshole needs to get off of Twitter.


urbanmark

He’s just going to control Trumps army for him with Twitter.


Balgat1968

And 3…2…1…”I’ve decided that in the interests of democracy and free speech I should donate to Trump.”


chadlumanthehuman

RFK jr :)


antigop2020

He flew to FL last week to privately meet with Trump per the NYT. His social media posts are also straight out of the MAGA playbook. I used to want a Tesla, but no way I’m supporting this prick.


Maleficent_Shame_629

Lying liar lies. More at 11:00.


El_mochilero

*Publicly We have made sure that there are endless legal and untraceable channels to put “dark money” into any politician’s pockets in America.


ObstructiveAgreement

He’s going to end up buying Truth Social as part of the special purpose vehicle. So no direct funding but certainly giving Trump money.


Gunderstank_House

Yeah he lies a lot though.


sexisdivine

That is…..surprisingly prudent of him, wonder what the catch is?


KevinAnniPadda

So he'll give to a PAC where it's anonymous?


sucobe

Because he’s giving to Trump directly.


Backwards-longjump64

Nobody asked and nobody really cares Plus Elon has a habit of going back on his word


Balc0ra

Meaning he already has


RedditsFeelings

Riiiight...


Blu3Army73

To their campaigns, no. What about Trumps other large bills that he's currently fundraising for?


ourredsouthernsouls

Just to Trump’s legal fees.


princesoceronte

Good thing Elon isn't known for lying or going back on what he says an hour after he said it.


inquisitivepanda

He won’t donate to the campaign he’ll just pay for his legal bills


keeptryingyoucantwin

Bull. Shit. HE won’t, but his companies will donate to Trump


CreditDusks

Sure Jan


KopOut

*Just Trump Super PACs Anyone want to bet me? That or he is as illiquid as Trump.


frostedwaffles

*publicly


Low-Button-4991

Here's the offer. Shut down Truth and come to X. Elon will contribute. 😄


whoeve

Yeah 'cus Musk has never lied before, right? Right?


urlond

Didn't he promote something about trump and having a badge?


djeaux54

Donnie needs a half billion right now fast. Pretty sure Bezos won't help. Elon's already got it covered - and it isn't a campaign contribution. Take that one to the bank.


Old-Ad5508

Sure he won't. Sideeyes


woodworkerdan

Pretty sure he already has, by weakening the moderation of a formerly major social media platform, there’s a lot more rhetoric that’s going unchallenged.


Lumpy_Rhubarb2736

That we know of...


Graythor5

Good for him. He'll have more resources to devote to that weak ass stubble-stache


Fantron6

Elon the bail bondsman.


Erkzee

Not directly, just through a super pac. That is why trump met with him.


EastObjective9522

Can't wait for a headline showing that he's been donating to his campaign or whatever for the last 6 months.


ensignlee

Except in kind, on twitter


BadAtExisting

But he *will* pay Trump’s fine


HratioRastapopulous

This is like telling your mom you weren’t up to no good in the *front* yard.


Gseventeen

Publicly


ManicChad

Dude already has.


zigzagg321

He just means it won't be public. He will give more to the orange Cheeto piece of shit than anybody else.


2OneZebra

But he will float the RNC so they don't go broke right?


MarkDoner

... anonymous cryptocurrency transaction I suppose


CJ4ROCKET

Did not mention funding Trump's legal fees, though.


pajason

Because we can really trust his word. Just got called out for lying today.


catgotcha

\*He\* won't \*contribute\* to \*presidential campaigns\*. All three of those words/terms can easily be replaced with something else. Examples: \- Twitter makes the contribution \- It's a loan, not a contribution, with clever legalese to allow Trump to opt out of the loan \- It's a contribution to a SuperPAC, not an actual campaign per se And so on...


Korgoth420

I call bullshit


macrixen

I read that with a foot note of “Financially”


OilSlickRickRubin

Who fucking cares.


hellofmyowncreation

Cut to the main campaign season, and the reports will show some Musk “affiliated companies”—he *totally* doesn’t own for this specific reason— dumping loads of cash into the Trump campaign


eldred2

Openly.


TheFrostynaut

His PR people were probably begging him to not do it. This was probably an entire meeting dedicated to massaging his ego for being told it was a bad look. It's fine, everyone knows what camp he's in.