When Donald Trump first hooked up with Elon Musk during the campaign last year, I think most people thought it was just a rather flashy example of a rich guy with mega billions in government contracts putting his money behind a politician who promised to cut taxes and regulations, which happens every day in American politics. Musk had famously become red-pilled in the last few years and was a very important cultural figure since he bought Twitter and made it X, a right-leaning free-for-all. But he didn't seem to have direct political ambitions for himself. He just looked to be having fun performing for the adoring MAGA crowds, and Trump obviously enjoyed having the richest man in the world in his entourage.
Musk's appearances at the rallies were cringeworthy and his speeches were anything but riveting. Still, he put a lot of money into the campaign and launched some provocative tactics, such as offering million-dollar lotteries for people to sign petitions and register to vote. He apparently believed that he delivered Pennsylvania for Trump, and Trump was certainly grateful for the support (although I doubt he believes anyone delivered anything but him.)
