High Stakes for Democracy
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk made a notable appearance with Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. During the event, Musk emphasized the high stakes of the upcoming election. He asserted that Trump is the only candidate who can “preserve democracy in America.”
Dire Warnings from Musk
Musk, who leads SpaceX and Tesla and owns X, issued a stark warning: “This will be the last election” if Trump doesn’t win. While wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap, he declared, “As you can see, I am not just MAGA — I am Dark MAGA.” This statement highlighted the seriousness of his message.
A Strengthening Alliance
This rally marked Musk’s first appearance at a Trump event, reflecting their growing alliance as the election approaches. Musk has established a super political action committee to support Trump, heavily investing in voter mobilization efforts. Furthermore, Trump has pledged to appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission if he is re-elected.
Public Discussion on X
In August, Trump and Musk engaged in a rare public discussion on X that lasted over two hours. They covered various topics, including the July assassination attempt, illegal immigration, and Trump’s plans to cut government regulations.
Champion of Free Speech
In front of a large crowd on Saturday, Musk portrayed Trump as a champion of free speech. He argued that Democrats aim “to take away your freedom of speech, your right to bear arms, and your right to vote, effectively.” Moreover, Musk criticized a California initiative to ban voter ID requirements.
Rally Location and Past Incident
The rally took place at the same location where, in July, a gunman’s bullets grazed Trump’s right ear and killed Trump supporter Corey Comperatore. That shooting also left multiple others injured.
Family and Supporters Gather
Several members of Comperatore’s family, along with other attendees and first responders from the July incident, returned to the site on Saturday. Also present were Trump’s running mate, Republican Ohio Sen. JD Vance, his son Eric Trump, daughter-in-law and RNC co-chair Lara Trump, and several Pennsylvania lawmakers and sheriffs.
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