Elon Musk gives support – and money – to Donald Trump after assassination attempt

The world’s richest man, South Africa-born Elon Musk, has thrown his weight – and money – behind Donald Trump in the US presidential election race.

WATCH | Donald Trump shot in an assassination attempt

This comes after Trump survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday.

Trump, 78, was hit in the right ear and was rushed off stage with blood streaked across his face.

The shooter, who was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was shot dead, while a bystander was also killed and two spectators critically injured.

As reported by the SAPeople website, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa was quick to wish Trump a ‘speedy recovery’

Elon Musk took to X

Shortly after the incident, Musk took to X, formerly Twitter, to endorse Trump in his battle with current President Joe Biden.

Tech guru Musk said he “fully” endorses Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate.

“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk wrote on X, which he owns along with carmaker Tesla, as he shared a video of Trump pumping his fist while being escorted away by Secret Service officials.

Musk added shortly thereafter: “Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt”.

According to Sky News, Musk has donated to a political group working to elect presidential candidate Donald Trump.

According to Bloomberg, citing sources, the amount was not known but it was “a sizable amount” given to a group called America PAC.

Bloomberg reported that the PAC – a group that can receive unlimited contributions for political activity – is next required to disclose its list of donors on 15 July.

History of political violence

Meanwhile, the United States has a history of political violence, and presidents, former presidents and candidates have tight security.

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 while riding in his motorcade, and his brother Bobby Kennedy was shot dead in 1968, while President Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt in 1981.