In his inaugural courtroom debut alongside Trump, Musk depicts Democrats as potential adversaries.
"Sign up to vote, alright? Grab everyone, even those you don't know so well, and help them register too. Only got two days left to register in Georgia and Arizona. That's right, just 48 hours. Send them a message now, then ensure they actually cast their votes. If they don't, this will be the last election, I'm telling you," Musk declared at Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. "If they don't, that's my prediction."
Musk's statement sounded similar to the warnings often made by supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden regarding Trump. Interestingly, it was Trump addressing the crowd before the disturbance at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, that remained inactive for more than three hours as chaos ensued.
Musk, CEO of X and a prominent Trump supporter, utilized his stage appearance to argue that the 2024 presidential race is unlike any other and that Trump's opponents aim to curb free speech, weaponize gun laws, and suppress the right to vote.
Musk endorsed Trump in summer and helped establish a super PAC that has already spent millions on the presidential campaign. He envisioned a grim future if Trump loses, emphasizing that the preservation of free speech in America and the Constitution itself rely on Trump’s victory.
Musk’s comments strayed from the primary theme of Trump’s rally in Butler, the site of an attempted assassination on Trump in the summer. During his first visit since then, Trump acknowledged the incident and paid tribute to Corey Contempore, a firefighter who was fatally shot at the rally. Trump also expressed gratitude to the Secret Service for their protection.
"Exactly 12 weeks ago this very evening, on this very ground, a cold-blooded assassin aimed to silence me and the movement," Trump said.
The lineup of speakers was more high-profile than typical Trump rallies, with Ohio Senator JD Vance, Eric Trump, RNC co-chairwoman and daughter-in-law Lara Trump, and conservative activist Scott Presler taking the stage before Trump. During a moment of silence in tribute to the victims at the previous Trump rally in Butler, opera singer Christopher Macchio performed "Ave Maria."
Throughout the rally, Trump claimed that his supporters deserve a government untouched by lobbyists and special interests, a goal that his opponents were actively obstructing.
"Over the past eight years, those who wanted to hinder our progress have slandered me, impeached me, indicted me, attempted to remove me from the ballot – and who knows, maybe even tried to kill me?" Trump alleged. "But I’ve never stopped fighting for you, and I never will."
Post the assassination attempt at his Florida golf club, Trump accused Biden and Harris of inciting the second attack and claimed, “Their rhetoric is causing me to be targeted.”
Authorities are still investigating the motives of the suspects in both assassination attempts, and there is no evidence linking Trump's political opponents to any involvement in either incident. CNN's Kate Sullivan and Shania Shelton contributed to this report.
In light of Musk's statements, there's been a focus on the importance of voting in upcoming elections, with concerns raised about potential efforts to curb free speech and suppress voting rights. Musk has endorsed Trump's campaign and warned of dire consequences if Trump loses, highlighting the role of politics in shaping these issues.
