PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk did not contribute financially to Donald Trump’s inauguration events, despite being a vocal supporter during his campaign.

Who’s Involved: Elon Musk, President Donald J. Trump, Trump’s inaugural committee, and companies such as Meta, Amazon, and Nvidia.

Where & When: Washington, D.C., during Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025; FEC filing released on Sunday, April 20, 2025.

Key Quote: “Donations to an inaugural committee are not subject to any contribution amount limitations. In addition, an inaugural committee may accept donations from corporations and labor organizations,” state FEC rules.

Impact: Trump’s inauguration raised $239 million from donors, exceeding previous records, highlighting potential Silicon Valley support for Trump’s presidency.

IN FULL:

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, notably abstained from making financial contributions toward the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump, as shown in recent documentation by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). This reveals a departure from Musk‘s previous backing of Trump’s campaign, during which he reportedly expended over $250 million in support of the America First leader. According to the FEC filing, which was released by the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, donations exceeded $239 million, setting a new record for inaugural fundraising in January.

Several major technology companies, including Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram), Nvidia, and Amazon, contributed substantially, each offering at least $1 million toward the inaugural events. However, the reason for Musk’s absence from the list of inaugural donors is not yet known.

While Musk did attend the inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2025, and delivered an address at a major rally later that evening, his financial absence is noteworthy given his prior involvement in the presidential campaign. Notably, a number of major Silicon Valley firms contributed to the second Trump inauguration despite the tech industry’s hostility—and in some cases outright opposition—to Trump’s agenda in the past.

The inaugural committee is not obligated to disclose expenditure specifics or remaining funds until it submits its tax return in 2026. Also of note, the FEC rules state: “Donations to an inaugural committee are not subject to any contribution amount limitations. In addition, an inaugural committee may accept donations from corporations and labor organizations.”

Image by Wcamp9. 

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