Elon Musk joins Silicon Valley elite to raise funds for Donald Trump. File photo – Reuters
As the US election season heats up, tech leaders, billionaires and Silicon Valley moguls are backing presidential candidate Donald Trump.
America PAC, a new super “political action committee” (PAC) backing Donald Trump's presidential bid, has received donations from prominent US tech and business leaders, including Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, venture capital pioneer Doug Leone and the Winklevoss twins.
The PAC has raised more than $8.7 million since its launch in June, according to public filings, including a $1 million donation from a Silicon Valley investor who has publicly supported Trump. Financial Times.
Elon Musk has also pledged to donate $45 million a month to the PAC, which could significantly boost Trump's fundraising efforts, Bloomberg reported, adding that other donors include Sequoia partner Sean Maguire, Valor Equity Partners founder Antonio Gracias and hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman.
Trump's running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, has ties to the tech industry and is backed by prominent venture capitalists. Disillusioned with President Joe Biden's policies, some Silicon Valley leaders have shifted their political support to Trump, who has pledged to protect free speech and support the cryptocurrency industry.
The donations received by the Republican candidate reflect the growing support he is receiving from big donors in the technology and financial sectors, which has grown since a Manhattan jury found him guilty on May 30 of felony charges related to making hush money payments to porn actresses.
Joe Biden's poor performance in the debate against Trump on June 27th has created conflict within the Democratic Party between Biden's supporters and those who want a different candidate, further increasing support for Trump.
USA PAC has mostly been working behind the scenes to bolster the Trump campaign's ground efforts. Of the outside groups backing Trump, USA PAC has spent the most on direct voter contact, spending $15.8 million so far, according to federal records, with $13.1 million of that going to field efforts.
The PAC also funds digital media, text messages and phone calls to reach voters. The group focuses on door-to-door persuasion and get-out-the-vote efforts. A recent FEC ruling allows super PACs to coordinate with campaigns on voter outreach.
Silicon Valley is traditionally one of the most liberal regions in the United States, but some tech industry leaders, unhappy with President Joe Biden's stance on regulation and taxes, are moving right politically.
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