Pennsylvania:
For 4 days billionaire Elon Musk toured Pennsylvania, placing his cash and fame into serving to Republican Donald Trump’s marketing campaign to take again the White Home in November.
Musk drew reward from conservatives at his rallies whereas fielding questions on synthetic intelligence, authorities regulation, sentient robots and vaccines.
He additionally made a string of false claims about election fraud, a few of them echoing these made by Trump the final 4 years.
The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and proprietor of the X social media platform, Musk additionally handed out two $1 million checks to randomly picked individuals who signed his on-line petition backing US constitutional rights to freedom of speech and bear arms.
Musk, 53, has greater than a passing curiosity in Trump’s success. If reelected, Trump guarantees to make Musk head of a authorities effectivity fee, a job Musk vows will assist rid the nation of laws he views as unhealthy for the economic system and a deterrent to doing enterprise.
CASH
Musk shocked a crowd of roughly 1,500 at a nondenominational church within the Pennsylvania capital of Harrisburg on Saturday when he introduced he was giving freely $1 million. The primary winner was John Dreher, who rushed to the stage in a signature pink MAGA cap, pumping his arms within the air.
“I have been following you for 10 years, bought your biography 10 years in the past and been watching ever since,” Dreher mentioned to Musk.
On Sunday, Musk awarded one other $1 million examine to Kristine Fishell, who appeared surprised as her title was referred to as and she or he took the stage in a pink Trump T-shirt.
“Thanks a lot for … I imply I really imagine the whole lot you are doing, actually. You do not have to be doing it, I do know loads of us really feel the identical method.”
Musk mentioned the winners are picked randomly however will need to have signed his petition and be registered voters within the battleground states that can resolve November’s election, comparable to Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona.
His handouts have stirred authorized questions.
CONSPIRACIES
Musk has additionally embraced conspiracy theories pushed by Trump, and is spinning a few of his personal.
He revived false theories claiming that voting machines rig elections – an assertion that has been repeatedly debunked because it was pushed by these searching for to overturn Trump’s 2020 loss.
He talked about Dominion Voting Techniques, which final yr sued Fox Information for defamation over false claims that the corporate engaged in a vote-rigging conspiracy. Dominion agreed to a landmark $787 million settlement with the community.
“There’s all the time a type of query of like, say, the Dominion voting machines. It’s bizarre that the, you recognize, I feel they’re utilized in Philadelphia and in Maricopa County (Arizona), however not in loads of different locations.”
In a press release, Dominion pointed to inaccuracies in Musk’s feedback, together with the actual fact they do not function in Philadelphia.
Musk additionally accused Democrats of channeling huge numbers of migrants who enter the US illegally into battleground states.
Presenting no proof, he alleged that Harris would legalize the migrants after the election if she wins, giving Democrats clear majorities in these states.
The Harris marketing campaign didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. Related claims have been debunked up to now.
‘POST THE EVIDENCE’
For a lot of on the occasions, the concept the 2020 election was stolen from Trump was taken as reality regardless of an absence of proof.
One attendee in Harrisburg requested Musk what he was doing to stop a recurrence. Musk responded by leaning into the unfounded allegations.
“I imply if the margin of victory is excessive sufficient, then I feel it could possibly exceed any type of dishonest which will happen. So we will goal for only a large margin,” Musk mentioned.
He inspired folks to make use of his X platform, previously referred to as Twitter, to shine a highlight on potential election dishonest.
“If folks suppose there is a fraud, then they need to put up the pictures, put up the movies, put up the proof,” he mentioned.
SHARKS AND WHALES
Musk has tens of millions of {dollars} in authorities contracts and his corporations face important and at instances expensive authorities laws which usually are designed to guard issues like customers, consuming water and wildlife.
Musk was requested if in such a job he would take a flamethrower to stacks of laws and put up a video of it. “I feel a bonfire of nonsense laws could be epic,” Musk mentioned.
Musk recounted how SpaceX was pressured to conduct a examine to find out whether or not his rockets would damage sharks when touchdown within the water.
“I am like, it is a large ocean, you recognize, there’s loads of sharks. It isn’t unattainable, nevertheless it’s not possible,” Musk mentioned.
Reluctantly, they carried out the examine solely to be advised to do an analogous overview on potential threats to whales, Musk mentioned.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by EDNBOX workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)