Musk abandons Massie.
Just weeks before a critical primary election, the much-vaunted support from Elon Musk for Representative Thomas Massie appears to have vanished into thin air. Massie, a Republican incumbent, was apparently banking on a big assist from the world’s richest man, who had reportedly vowed to back him. Now, with his primary against Navy SEAL veteran Ed Gallrein just around the corner, Gallrein, who’s got President Trump’s nod, has seen exactly zero dollars or public endorsements from the SpaceX and Tesla magnate. It’s a curious silence, given Musk’s history of “cutting huge checks” to Republicans and GOP super PACs this cycle.
Massie’s dry assessment is telling. He told Axios, “I think [Musk] found out it’s easier to land rockets backwards and to get cars to drive themselves than it is to fix this place.” That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement of political efficacy, nor a confidence booster for donors looking to influence Washington.
Is Trump’s Influence Waning?
This primary is shaping up to be a test of Trump’s clout. Massie is the first incumbent Republican targeted by Trump’s political apparatus this year. The intensity of the former president’s anti-Massie campaign is significant, and the outcome will be heavily scrutinized as a barometer of Trump’s ability to command loyalty and deliver wins. Polls show Massie in the lead, but it’s uncomfortably close for a lawmaker who’s typically coasted to reelection. A recent Quantus Insights survey put Massie at 46.8% to Gallrein’s 37.7%, with a substantial 14% undecided. That’s a far cry from the usual cakewalk.
Why the Political Cold Shoulder?
Massie himself offers a grim outlook for outside donors wanting to play in politics. “It’s hard for donors in business to get involved in politics if they’re not completely just in the tank for Trump without putting their businesses in jeopardy,” he stated, offering a candid, if cynical, take on the current political climate. He suspects this fear of retribution might be what’s keeping Musk — and others — on the sidelines. He’s seen it with other donors, he admits, though he’s keeping their identities close to his chest. Despite the lack of concrete support, Massie claims “no animosity or hard feelings” toward Musk. It’s a remarkably diplomatic stance, considering the potential implications of Musk’s backing – or lack thereof.
Musk’s political spending is not insignificant. He’s previously contributed heavily to pro-House and Senate GOP super PACs. Last year, he even wrote a $10 million check to support Nate Morris, a pro-Trump candidate vying to succeed Senator Mitch McConnell. So, it’s not that Musk isn’t spending money in politics. It’s just that, for whatever reason, Thomas Massie isn’t the recipient this time around. Perhaps the sheer difficulty of navigating the political landscape, especially when squaring off against a Trump-endorsed candidate, has proven more daunting than any aerospace or automotive engineering challenge. Or maybe, just maybe, Musk finally realized that sometimes, even the richest man in the world can’t buy influence without a fight.
