In a fiery exchange on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) weighed in on Elon Musk's recent political maneuver, suggesting that law enforcement might need to investigate the tech billionaire’s latest effort to influence the 2024 election.
Musk, who has been holding town halls in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania, announced he would give $1 million per day to random individuals who sign a petition linked to his super PAC, America PAC. The petition emphasizes support for the First and Second Amendments, but the sheer size of Musk’s financial involvement has raised red flags for some, including Shapiro.
During the interview, moderator Kristen Welker pressed Shapiro about the legality of Musk’s offer. Shapiro, while careful not to make direct legal claims, hinted that the implications of such massive monetary contributions warranted further scrutiny. “There are real questions with how he is spending money in this race, how the dark money is flowing,” Shapiro remarked, clearly signaling concerns over potential ethical and legal issues.
WATCH: Every day until Election Day, Elon Musk says he’ll give $1M to a voter who has signed his super PAC’s petition “in favor of free speech and the right to bear arms.”@JoshShapiroPA: “That is deeply concerning. ... It's something that law enforcement could take a look at." pic.twitter.com/2mZY1b5YaL
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 20, 2024
Shapiro, a former attorney general of Pennsylvania, made it clear that his concerns were less about Musk’s political leanings—he acknowledged Musk’s right to support Donald Trump—but more about the consequences of using such wealth to sway public opinion. The governor stated, “When you start flowing this kind of money into politics, I think it raises serious questions.” Despite these remarks, Shapiro stopped short of directly accusing Musk of wrongdoing, instead implying that it was an issue for law enforcement to explore.
The scale of Musk’s offer is unprecedented. According to Musk, he will continue giving $1 million daily to random signers of the petition until Election Day. This push began with a publicized ceremony in Harrisburg, where Musk presented the first $1 million check to a man named John Dreher. In a brazen critique of traditional media, Musk positioned his financial giveaway as a tool to circumvent what he perceives as biased reporting.
He even emphasized that these offers will continue across battleground states like Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin, making it clear this was not just a Pennsylvania-centric endeavor but a broader political strategy.
Elon Musk announces that he will randomly award $1 million to one registered Pennsylvania who signs America PAC’s petition every day until Election Day. pic.twitter.com/zDGS7zoH22
— The American Conservative (@amconmag) October 20, 2024
Shapiro’s comments underscore the growing tension over how money is shaping the 2024 election. With America PAC offering incentives, from $47 for referrals to registered swing-state voters to $100 for petition signers in Pennsylvania, the financial stakes have taken on a life of their own. Musk’s actions blur the lines between political activism and direct voter engagement, which inevitably draws attention to the finer points of campaign finance law.