While tech billionaire Elon Musk has publicly supported former President Donald Trump in the race for the White House, employees at Musk’s companies—Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter)—are predominantly backing Trump’s Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, in their campaign donations.
According to OpenSecrets, a non-partisan organization tracking US campaign contributions and lobbying, employees at Tesla have contributed $42,824 to Harris’s presidential campaign, compared to $24,840 for Trump. At SpaceX, donations to Harris total $34,526, while Trump has received $7,652 from the company’s employees. Similarly, employees at X have given $13,213 to Harris versus less than $500 to Trump.
These figures, although modest in the context of overall campaign fundraising, reveal a notable divergence between Musk’s political support and that of his employees. Musk, known for his outspoken support of Trump and his criticism of left-leaning policies, has described progressive ideas as a “woke-mind virus” and has used X to promote Trump’s platform.
In the 2020 presidential elections, Musk supported President Joe Biden but has since shifted his political stance rightward. Trump has even suggested that, if elected, he would appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission, reflecting their alignment.
The OpenSecrets data encompasses donations from employees, company owners, and their immediate family members, with the prohibition against corporate donations to federal campaigns ensuring that only individual contributions are tracked.
The political leanings of Musk’s employees might be influenced by their location, as many are based in California—a traditionally Democratic stronghold. Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management and a Tesla shareholder, noted that Musk’s recent announcement of relocating X and SpaceX headquarters to Texas, prompted by objections to California’s gender-identity law, could lead to a loss of potential talent.
Gerber also pointed out that despite Musk’s conservative shift, the political preferences of his employees remain reflective of California’s broader Democratic leanings. The contrast between Musk’s public support for Trump and the voting patterns of his employees highlights a broader discussion about political alignment within corporate environments.
