Elon Musk took the stage at former President Donald Trump’s triumphant rally in Butler, Pa., Saturday — three months after the first assassination attempt on his life there — where he offered his full-throated support for the Republican candidate and implored people to register to vote.
Musk, 53, joked he’s “not just MAGA, I’m dark MAGA” as he took the stage to loud cheers from the 20,000-plus crowd dressed in all black — including a custom black MAGA hat.
“President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution. He must win to preserve democracy in America,” Musk stressed to the audience.
In his brief remarks, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO took shots at President Biden and fellow Democrats while praising Trump, 78, from the same stage where the ex-president took a bullet to the ear when would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, opened fire on July 13.
“You know, the true test of someone’s character is how they behave under fire. And we had one president who couldn’t climb a flight of stairs and another who was fist pumping after getting shot,” Musk said to raucous applause.
Musk repeatedly urged unregistered voters to do so at their local election office before the Nov. 5 election, which he called a “must-win situation.”
“Register to vote. Get everyone you know — and everyone you don’t know. Drag them to register to vote,” he said.
“If they don’t, this will be the last election. That’s my prediction. Nothing’s more important,” the tech mogul warned.
The X boss, and world’s richest man, has become increasingly outspoken about his support for Republicans online — something that has coincided with a flood of investigations from Biden’s regulatory agencies.
Musk has also increasingly put money where his mouth is. In August he cut a check to the National Republican Congressional Committee for $289,100, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Over the past year, Trump and Musk have become chummy. In August Trump and Musk held a more than two-hour conversation on X where they talked about the state of the race and issues facing the United States.
On social media, the billionaire has been effusive in his praise.
“Trump will save democracy and America. Mark my words. Kamala/Harris would be a disaster.” Musk said in an X posting in August. “Very few Americans realize that, if Trump is NOT elected, this will be the last election. Far from being a threat to democracy, he is the only way to save it!” he added last month.
Before wrapping up his 90-minute speech, Trump vowed to “reach Mars” by the end of his term with Musk’s help should he win again.
