In a transfer that would mildly sting the GOP’s short-term political aspirations, it seems megadonor Elon Musk might be tightening up his coffers.
Musk, the top of the Department of Government Efficiency, spoke on the Qatar Financial Discussion board Tuesday, outlining his newfound political technique.
Impartial journalist Sawyer Merritt posted the related clip on X:
NEWS: Elon Musk says he’ll spending “so much much less” sooner or later on politics. “I’ve performed sufficient. If I see a motive to do political spending I’ll, however I don’t at present see a motive.” pic.twitter.com/5L2pjTzACA
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) May 20, 2025
“You’ve spent much more cash on the final U.S. election that you simply envisaged if you have been talking right here three years in the past,” prefaced the discussion board host, whereas Musk was talking by way of teleconference.
“Are you going to proceed to spend at that type of degree on future elections?” she requested in follow-up.
“I believe, by way of political spending, I’m going to do so much much less sooner or later,” Musk stated.
“And why is that?” the host requested.
“I believe I’ve performed sufficient,” Musk answered.
“Is it due to blowback?”
Musk made it clear that the blowback mattered little to him — and that he wasn’t utterly closing up his coffers.
“Effectively, if I see a motive to do political spending sooner or later, I’ll do it,” Musk stated. “I don’t at present see a motive.”
“What about political affect past the U.S.?” the host once more requested in follow-up. “How typically do you converse to [Russian President Vladimir Putin]?”
Musk, making a face, answered, “I don’t converse to President Putin.”
He then recalled that he was on a video name with him about 5 years in the past, however other than that, Musk had by no means spoken to the Russian oligarch.
The tech mogul, clearly a bit aggravated, then turned it round on the questioning host.
“However why would you assume I converse to President Putin?” Musk requested the host, this time, as an audible response arose from the viewers. “Oh, I get it, you imagine the legacy media.”
According to The Washington Submit, Musk donated a whopping $288 million on the 2024 election to assist get President Donald Trump elected.
That’s nothing to sneeze at, and the GOP will definitely really feel a short-term sting from shedding out on a piece of it — particularly throughout the 2026 midterms.
However by that very same token, Musk is a relative newcomer to the political spending enviornment, and the Republican Celebration has received loads of elections earlier than the billionaire entered the fray.
Of observe, Musk has just lately spoken out a few extra common transfer away from politics, not simply political spending, with a late April announcement confirming as a lot.
This text appeared initially on The Western Journal.