Elon Musk on Monday rejected reports that he planned on funneling $45 million per month to a new political group supporting former President Donald Trump.
The Tesla CEO, who has endorsed Trump, also insisted he wouldn’t consider himself “MAGA” – Make America Great Again – during a sit-down interview with conservative commentator Jordan B. Peterson.
While past reports, citing sources, have said the billionaire will fork over the whopping sum of money to the America PAC, Musk shot down the assertion.
“What’s been reported in the media is simply not true,” Musk told Peterson. “I am not donating $45 million a month to Trump.”
In a tweet Tuesday night, he also dismissed the reports.
“I am making some donations to America PAC, but at a much lower level and the key values of the PAC are supporting a meritocracy & individual freedom,” Musk stated.
“Republicans are mostly, but not entirely, on the side of merit & freedom.”
Musk, 53, said he helped create the super PAC, which can raise unlimited funds for independent expenditures that can help a campaign, but is not funneled directly to the campaign. The political groups are regularly used by both Republicans and Democrats.
“It’s not meant to be a sort of hyper-partisan PAC,” he said. “It’s actually the core principles this America PAC are, the intent is to promote the principles that made America great in the first place. I wouldn’t say that I’m, for example, MAGA, or Make America Great Again. I think America is great. I’m more M-A-G, Make America Greater.”
The group is focused on rallying support for Trump in swing states to counter Democrats’ efforts in those crucial states, the Wall Street Journal reported.
America PAC was created in Austin, Texas – where Tesla’s headquarters are located – in May.
The PAC has spent $21 million on independent expenditures mostly focused on voter turnout, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
Musk also said he doesn’t think the GOP is flawless and doesn’t subscribe “to a cult of personality” during the interview with Peterson.
But he commended Trump for displaying “true courage” after he got shot at a Pennsylvania rally earlier this month, and stressed Republicans are the better choice over Democrats this November.
“I think we need a change in administration,” Musk said.
