Longshot US Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has confirmed to Reuters that Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk attended a fundraiser for him in Northern California. The meeting took place during a late-night conversation at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s (RJC) weekend donor gathering in Las Vegas.
This confirmation follows a report by Puck, a digital media group, which stated that Musk had recently participated in a fundraiser in Silicon Valley hosted by prolific SPAC investor Chamath Palihapitiya.
When asked about the possibility of Musk making a donation, Ramaswamy stated that their discussions revolved around the “cultural direction for the country.” He emphasized their shared commitment to free speech absolutism, a stance that sets them apart from many individuals in both major political parties.
As of the time of this report, Reuters had not been able to reach Musk for a comment, and an email sent to an address associated with Palihapitiya remained unanswered.
It’s worth noting that Florida Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis has also been seeking support from Elon Musk, who is widely recognized as the world’s richest individual with an estimated wealth of $222 billion. Musk expressed his potential support for DeSantis’ presidential bid in 2024 back in June 2022. Subsequently, DeSantis conducted a somewhat tumultuous launch of his presidential campaign on Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter).
Since then, Vivek Ramaswamy has initiated his own X Spaces talking events with Musk, expressing optimism about more such engagements in the future. This development suggests that influential figures from various sectors are actively engaging with presidential candidates, adding an intriguing dimension to the upcoming election.