Elon Musk secretly donated millions to a conservative political group, Building America's Future, which has been critical of the Biden administration and supports right-wing causes.
Elon Musk has secretly funded a conservative group, Building America’s Future, according to four sources familiar with his donations. These donations began in 2022, with millions of dollars reportedly going to the organization.
This shows Musk’s support for right-wing causes even before he publicly backed Donald Trump’s re-election campaign in July 2024.
Two of the sources told Reuters that Musk started donating to the group as early as 2022. One of them said the donations amounted to millions, significantly boosting the group’s ability to fund advertisements and social media campaigns against the Biden administration.
Musk’s increasing public criticism of progressive politics aligns with the group’s agenda.
While Reuters couldn’t confirm the exact amount or timeframe of Musk’s contributions, it was clear that the billionaire entrepreneur was financially involved. Earlier reports from The Wall Street Journal also revealed Musk’s support for other pro-Republican groups. Musk and a representative from Building America’s Future both declined to comment.
Musk, known for his ventures like Tesla and SpaceX, had previously been careful to avoid being seen as favoring one political party. In March 2024, months before he endorsed Trump, Musk wrote on social media that he was not donating to any presidential candidate. However, his donations to Building America’s Future indicate that he was already using his vast wealth to support conservative causes.
Building America’s Future is a non-profit 501(c)(4) group. This type of organization is not required by law to disclose its donors. While such groups cannot directly fund political campaigns, they can promote political causes, making them commonly referred to as “dark money” groups. These groups are used by both Democrats and Republicans to hide the source of financial support behind political campaigns.
According to the four people familiar with the donations, Musk’s financial contributions to Building America’s Future were kept very secret. Three of the sources were informed by executives within or connected to the organization, while the fourth person was consulted by a Musk aide.
Building America’s Future saw a significant jump in revenue between 2021 and 2022. According to government records, their revenue grew from $11 million in 2021 to $53 million in 2022. This period aligns with the time two sources said Musk began his donations. It is unclear if Musk is still funding the group or how much he has contributed in total.
Over the past two years, the group has launched several campaigns against the Biden administration, particularly focusing on illegal immigration, a topic Musk frequently comments on.
One recent anti-immigration video from the group blamed Vice-President Kamala Harris for leading a "migrant invasion" at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The group has also launched a $10 million advertising campaign to undermine
Black support for Harris by criticizing the White House’s move to ban menthol cigarettes. The cigarettes, which are more dangerous than regular tobacco, have been marketed heavily to African Americans.
Musk’s political leanings have shifted to the right in recent years. Although he has said he voted for Democrats like Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, he has become a vocal critic of the Biden administration. Musk claims that the White House has given little attention to his companies, Tesla and SpaceX.
Musk, now the richest man in the world according to Forbes, has also become a critic of identity politics. He often uses his social media platform X to spread conspiracy theories, especially about immigrants and other political issues.
After Musk’s public support for Trump, the former president said he would appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission if re-elected. Musk’s connection to right-wing groups like America PAC, which promotes Trump, further highlights his growing involvement in conservative politics.
America PAC, like Building America’s Future, has aggressively attacked Kamala Harris. The group’s campaign flyers, which were distributed in Arizona, feature Harris laughing with the message, “Stop cackling Kamala.”