Elon Musk Emerges as Top US Midterm Donor, Contributes $276 Million After Reuniting With Trump

Elon Musk Spends $276 Million on US Midterm Campaigns as Alliance With Trump Warms Up

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has donated $276 million to groups backing right-wing candidates ahead of the US midterm elections scheduled for November 3, emerging as the biggest individual donor of the election cycle, according to a report by The New York Times.

The contributions, all made since July, have taken Musk’s total political spending during the current election cycle to $366 million, the report said. Much of the money has gone to organisations supporting Republican candidates as the party seeks to maintain its hold on Congress.

Republican Groups Receive the Largest Share

The Senate Leadership Fund, a political action committee aligned with Republicans, emerged as the biggest beneficiary of Musk’s latest contributions, receiving $158 million to help the party retain control of the Senate.

Musk also channelled $76 million into America PAC, his own political action committee.

Other recipients included the Congressional Leadership Fund, which received $20 million, while the Republican Governors Association and Lone Star Liberty PAC each received $10 million. The Republican Attorneys General Association was given $2 million, according to the report.

US election finance rules limit individual contributions directly to candidates, but wealthy donors can give substantially larger amounts to political action committees and other organisations that support election campaigns.

Musk’s Political Donations Have a Long History

Musk has become a major financial force in American politics in recent years. During the 2024 presidential election, he contributed approximately $290 million to efforts supporting Donald Trump’s successful re-election campaign.

His latest spending comes after a public dispute with Trump in 2025, following Musk’s departure from the White House, where he had headed the Department of Government Efficiency, commonly known as DOGE.

The disagreement intensified after Musk criticised Trump’s flagship tax and spending legislation. Their exchanges became increasingly acrimonious, with Musk even threatening to establish a third political party.

Trump and Musk Move Towards Reconciliation

Relations between the two have since improved, with Musk returning to Trump’s political circle and appearing at White House events.

Last week, Trump presented Musk with the National Medal of Science during an event in Washington, providing another public indication that their relationship had warmed after months of tension.

The US president has also praised the Tesla and SpaceX chief, describing him as a “modern-day Thomas Edison” and a “national treasure”.

Musk’s latest contributions highlight his continued involvement in American electoral politics. With Republicans seeking to defend their congressional majorities, his financial support could provide a substantial boost to organisations working to advance the party’s candidates in the November midterm elections.