Elon Musk, a man who thrives on controversy and power, has jumped headfirst into Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign. Partnering with far-right groups and leveraging his massive influence and resources,
Musk promised to revolutionize Trump’s get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort. But as Election Day looms, it’s clear that his plan is not just failing, it’s collapsing under the weight of its own hubris.
Musk’s Political Ambitions: The Power Grab Behind the Smokescreen
Musk’s entrance into politics was always about more than just helping Trump. For the world’s richest man, this is about control—control of the political system, the narrative, and ultimately, the future. By stepping into Trump’s election efforts, Musk wasn’t just playing kingmaker; he was attempting to reshape democracy into something more aligned with his libertarian, free-market, and arguably dystopian worldview. His investment of $100 million into Trump’s GOTV efforts through his America PAC seemed more like a down payment on political influence than an altruistic act of support.
But Musk’s ambitions, much like his track record with Twitter (now X), are showing serious cracks. His misguided decision to outsource critical GOTV work to a bunch of super PACs—including Turning Point USA, an organization notorious for promoting conspiracy theories—has turned into a logistical nightmare. The strategy, full of technical glitches, looks more like a vanity project than a serious attempt to re-elect a sitting president.
A Tech Billionaire’s Failure: Glitches and Incompetence
In theory, Musk’s tech savviness should have been a boon for Trump’s campaign. However, the app Musk’s PAC developed to help coordinate door-knocking efforts has been riddled with glitches. Canvassers are struggling to use the app, with reports that data isn’t being properly recorded, leading to a complete lack of oversight. No one can tell whether volunteers are reaching voters, knocking on doors, or doing anything at all.
The reliance on faulty technology feels like another Muskian overpromise—much like the self-driving cars that don’t quite work or his Twitter (X) revolution that mostly alienated users. But this isn’t a failed tech launch; this is a presidential election, and Musk’s errors could have far-reaching consequences.
The Illusion of Voter Outreach: A Plan Doomed from the Start
Musk’s GOTV efforts focus on so-called “low-propensity” voters—people who didn’t vote in 2016 or 2020 but are part of Trump’s rural base. The logic is as flawed as it sounds. Why would anyone think that voters who skipped two presidential elections would suddenly turn out now, just because a bunch of super PACs are sending canvassers to their doors? These voters are notoriously difficult to mobilize, yet Musk and his team are betting everything on them.
Meanwhile, suburban swing voters, who could actually decide this election, are being neglected. Republican operatives have sounded the alarm, warning that the Trump campaign’s obsession with rural outreach is a waste of resources. Instead of trying to woo persuadable voters in suburban areas, Musk’s strategy seems to be more about stoking the MAGA base with conspiracy theories than building a winning coalition.
Musk and His Right-Wing Allies: Birds of a Feather
Of course, Musk isn’t acting alone. His political maneuvering is supported by figures like Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA, both of whom have long flirted with the fringes of right-wing extremism. This alliance is troubling but not surprising. Musk, who has dabbled in spreading misinformation and pushing the boundaries of acceptable discourse on X, has found common ground with Kirk’s far-right activism. Their GOTV efforts, focused on “election integrity” and voter suppression tactics, are more about feeding Trump’s delusional claims of a stolen 2020 election than actually turning out voters.
What’s worse, insiders are reporting that the obsession with recruiting poll watchers, instead of canvassers, is crowding out traditional GOTV efforts. It’s almost as if Musk and his far-right allies would prefer to sit back and cry “fraud” when they lose, rather than do the hard work of convincing people to vote for their candidate.
The Broader Consequences: A Warning for American Democracy
Musk’s involvement in Trump’s campaign should be seen for what it is: a cynical power play by a billionaire with questionable political motives. His alliance with far-right figures and his reliance on a deeply flawed GOTV plan are not just bad news for Trump; they’re bad news for democracy.
By outsourcing crucial electoral operations to PACs with little accountability and flawed strategies, Musk has shown a disregard for the fundamentals of democratic engagement. If this is the future of American elections—where billionaires and conspiracy theorists run the show—then we are in trouble.
Conclusion: A Failed Gambit
In the end, Musk’s attempt to reshape Trump’s campaign looks more like a cautionary tale of hubris than a revolutionary political strategy. His ambitions, cloaked in the language of innovation and tech savviness, are crumbling. The plan to rely on unreliable apps, focus on disengaged voters, and push fringe narratives over genuine voter outreach is failing miserably.
Perhaps this failure will serve as a wake-up call—not just for Trump’s campaign but for anyone who thinks billionaires like Musk have the answers to America’s political problems. After all, just because someone can build rockets doesn’t mean they can win elections.