HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania 鈥 Billionaire Elon Musk promised on Saturday to give away $1 million each day until November鈥檚 election to someone who signs his online petition supporting the US Constitution.
And he wasted no time, awarding a $1-million check to an attendee of his event in Pennsylvania aimed at rallying supporters behind Republican Donald Trump. The winner was a man named John Dreher, according to event staff.
鈥淏y the way, John had no idea. So anyway, you鈥檙e welcome,鈥 the Tesla founder said as he handed Mr. Dreher the check.
The money is the latest example of Mr. Musk using his extraordinary wealth to influence the tightly contested between Mr. Trump and his Democratic rival .
Mr. Musk started America PAC, a political action organization he founded in support of Trump鈥檚 presidential campaign. The group is helping mobilize and register voters in battleground states, but there are signs it is having trouble meeting its goals.
The Harrisburg event is the third in as many days in Pennsylvania, where Mr. Musk is painting November鈥檚 election in stark terms and encouraging supporters to vote early and get others to do the same.
He said on Saturday that if Ms. Harris wins, it will be 鈥渢he last election,鈥 suggesting the US will no longer exist.
He also said the two assassination attempts against Mr. Trump prove he is ruffling feathers and upending the status quo in ways Ms. Harris won鈥檛. He said that鈥檚 why no one is trying to kill Harris.
鈥淎ssassinating a puppet is worthless,鈥 Mr. Musk said, reiterating an argument he has made in a social media post.
The petition Mr. Musk is asking people to sign reads: 鈥淭he First and Second Amendments guarantee freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. By signing below, I am pledging my support for the First and Second Amendments.鈥
Attendees of Saturday鈥檚 event had to sign the petition, which allows America PAC to garner contact details for more potential voters that it can work to get to the polls for Trump.
Mr. Musk, ranked by Forbes as the world鈥檚 richest person, so far has supplied at least $75 million to America PAC, according to federal disclosures, making the group a crucial part of Mr. Trump鈥檚 bid to regain the White House.
The entrepreneur behind carmaker Tesla and rocket and satellite venture SpaceX has increasingly supported Republican causes and this year became an outspoken Trump supporter.
Mr. Trump in turn has said if elected he would appoint Mr. Musk to head a government efficiency commission. 鈥 Reuters
