A rumor that Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk pledged $5 billion to the presidential campaign of the Republican candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, circulated online in October 2024. For example, the Facebook group USA NEWS posted about it on Oct. 6:
(Facebook/USA NEWS)
"Elon Musk Pledges $5 Billion Endorsement at Pennsylvania Rally: 'This Feels Right' what Taylor couldn't do with all her money," the caption read.
Some readers seemed to interpret the rumor as a factual recounting of real-life events. "Sickening that he is willing to spend - a Billion more on trumps campaign is nuts," one commenter wrote.
However, there was no evidence of Musk every pledging this much money to the Trump campaign, though he did endorse Trump for president.
Rather, the rumor about this multibillion donation originated with SpaceXmania— a website that describes its output as being humorous or satirical in nature. The article read:
Elon Musk Pledges $5 Billion Endorsement at Pennsylvania Rally: "This Feels Right"
In what could easily go down as the most expensive presidential endorsement in American history, billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk took to the stage at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania to announce a staggering $5 billion donation to support Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. Yes, you read that right—$5 billion, the kind of money that makes most Super PACs look like pocket change. And with the crowd erupting into thunderous applause, Musk grinned and simply said, "This feels right."
SpaceXMania's disclaimer page states:
Please note that the article under the category "SATIRE" are satirical in nature and are not meant to be taken seriously. These articles are meant to be humorous and are often entirely made up. We make no claim that the information presented in these articles is true or accurate.
The fictional story spread after Musk attended a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the same place where Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13, 2024 — also during a rally.
SpaceXMania has a history of making up stories for shares and comments, sometimes relying on artificial-intelligence (AI) writing software to do its storytelling.
Snopes has addressed similar satirical claims from SpaceXMania in the past, including the assertion that Musk had called the television network ABC a "disgrace" and a rumor that he had said rainbow Pride flags should be banned from classrooms.
For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.