'US Future at Stake': Elon Musk Holds First Solo Event in Support of Donald Trump

Folsom: Elon Musk held his first solo event in support of Donald Trump for president on Thursday, encouraging voters in Philelphia suburbs to register to cast ir ballots and vote early, though some attendees shouted back, “Why?”

America PAC event at Ridley High School's auditorium in Folsom featured world's richest man speaking onstage in front of a large U.S. flag for roughly 15 minutes before taking questions from crowd, many of whom wore “Make America Great Again” hats.

event was billed as a call to action to vote early in crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania, where Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris are fiercely contesting election. Some in crowd questioned Musk's entreaties to vote early, reflecting possibility that Republicans are still persuing ir supporters to embrace early voting after Trump spent years demonizing method.

crowd rose to its feet and took cellphone videos as Musk, billionaire founder of Tesla and Space X and owner of social media platform X, walked onstage. y remained standing during his remarks and cheered loudly after he said US Constitution needs to be upheld.

“This is literally fundamental values that me America what it is today. And anyone who is against those things is fundamentally anti-American and to hell with m,” said Musk, who was born in South Africa. crowd erupted.

He exhorted crowd to make sure y and ir friends and family were registered to vote and to “pester” those who weren't. Toward end of question period, which included more than a dozen from those in audience, he was asked to explain wher people should vote early in Pennsylvania. Musk was momentarily distracted by a fan waving a hat, which he appeared to sign, and n by a child whom he brought onstage for a photo.

Redirected to question, he said people should vote immediately.

Some in crowd cupped ir hands and shouted, “Why?” He did not answer. A spokesperson said after event that he didn't have ditional comment.

Trump for years has sowed doubt about mail and early voting by claiming it was rife with fraud, though voter fraud is rare in United States. This year, Republicans are making a renewed push to encourage ir supporters to vote early and lock in ir ballots, though y acknowledge skepticism from those conditioned by Trump’s false claims.

John and Linda Bird, a couple who attended event, said y h concerns about integrity of voting system and worried about voting early.

John Bird said he planned to vote on Election Day. Linda pointed to a sign given out at event that said Trump called for early voting and worried about possibility of not getting to polls on Nov. 5.

Still, she said she'd cast her ballot on Election Day, too.

“Anything can happen, you know, you wake up that morning, some catastrophe happens or whatever,” she said. “But, you know, we’re planning on voting on Nov. 5.”

One of questioners asked about fraud in elections — something Trump has falsely insisted cost him 2020 race. An Associated Press review of every potential case of voter fraud in six battleground states disputed by Trump found fewer than 475, a number that would have me no difference in outcome.

Musk said sarcastically that it must be a coincidence that Dominion voting machines, which h been at center of conspiracy ories in 2020 election, were used in Pennsylvania and Arizona, two battleground states won by Democrat Joe Biden . In 2023, Fox News agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787 million to avoid a trial in a defamation lawsuit voting machine company brought against network for lies told about ir company switching ballots.

In an emailed statement Thursday, Dominion said its machines are not used in Philelphia, as Musk said. statement also said its systems are based on “verified paper ballots.”

"se are not matters of opinion. y are verifiable facts.” Dominion said.

Musk has become a major booster of Trump this campaign season. On Thursday evening, he cast election in dire terms.

“I haven’t been politically active before. I’m politically active now because I think future of America and future of civilization is at stake,” he said.

People were lined up to attend before 3 p.m. as school was letting out. A few people began to leave early when it became clear that not everyone who h lined up to ask a question would have a chance to ask one.

event was livestreamed on X, formerly Twitter, and was at times glitchy and difficult to follow, even as it drew hundreds of thousands of viewers.

Musk is undertaking much of get-out--vote effort for Trump through his America PAC, a super PAC that can raise and spend unlimited sums of money. He has committed more than $70 million to super PAC to help Trump and or Republicans win in November.

Trump and Republican National Committee he controls opted for an unorthodox strategy of sharing canvassing duties in key regions with groups like Musk’s. y’ve also focused ir efforts not on independent or moderate voters, but on those who alrey support Trump but usually don’t vote.

Republican activists in swing states said in September that y h seen little activity from PAC’s get-out--vote efforts.