Elon Musk has announced that he will be giving away a staggering $1 million every day to anyone who signs his new petition supporting the first and second amendments.
The Tesla CEO and MAGA mega-donor has come under fire on social media, as many believe his efforts are corrupt and unethical.
He launched the incentive at a town hall in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night as the crowd cheered the chance to become millionaires.
“We’re going to randomly award $1 million to people who have signed the petition every day from now until the election,” Musk said in front of an American flag backdrop.
Pennsylvania man John Dreher was the first petition signer to become a Musk-made millionaire.
Elon Musk jumped on stage while addressing the crowd at a Pennsylvania town hall on Saturday.
Musk held an oversized check as he called Dreher to redeem his prize. He excitedly ran onto the stage, punching the air with his fist and waving a “vote early for PA” sign.
Dreher said: ‘Thanks Elon, this is great. I’m really ecstatic.
‘I’ve followed you for 10 years, I got your biography 10 years ago and I’ve been watching you ever since. I’m a big fan.’
But not everyone was as enthusiastic about Musk as Dreher.
“If Elon Musk giving away million-dollar checks for votes doesn’t get the attention of the Department of Justice and the FEC, I will give up,” Jim Stewartson, podcast host and political writer, wrote on X.
‘How is this legal? Straight up a bribe,” said one user, whose bio is “raised Republican, voted Republican, now supports Harris.”
Others called Musk “desperate” and “less and less relevant” every time he makes a new announcement.
Several people echoed this confusion about how Musk is allowed to use money to influence people’s political actions.
Another pro-Harris story wrote: ‘The ultimate “billion-dollar purchase choice.” It should be illegal, right? Hello Department of Justice?
Musk shared that he will give $1 million to a new person every day who signs his petition.
Musk sparked a lot of online controversy and backlash for his incentive.
One user expressed deep concern: ‘The rule of law is destroyed if billionaires are allowed to buy votes. Elon Musk doesn’t need the rule of law, he can simply buy political influence.
‘He can just buy Trump. “The rule of law is for people who can’t buy politicians.”
Other users expressed their approval and praise for Musk and his methods of gaining support.
Musk has previously offered money to people who sign his petition, but $1 million is the highest amount.
Musk was criticized for “bribery” and for trying to “buy political influence”
‘Elon is playing chess while everyone else is stuck at checkers. Putting a million dollars in the hands of everyday people while shaking up the system is genius,” wrote political author John Eid.
Legion Health co-founder Arthur MacWaters wrote: “That’s crazy. What an insane level of “all inclusive”! But in retrospect it will seem like a small price to pay to preserve freedom of expression, free elections and the rule of law.’
In a post about Musk’s announcement, Republican candidate Donald Trump chimed in to applaud the SpaceX mogul.
He wrote: ‘This is a game changer! Elon is making a splash with this initiative. I can’t wait to see who wins that million dollars! Let’s keep pushing for freedom of expression!’
Musk has been an active fundraiser and supporter of Trump. He is the sole donor to his pro-Trump political group America PAC, founded in July.
America PAC’s petition was aimed at swing states before the election.
He gave the group $75 million in just three months.
The PAC’s ‘Petition for Free Speech and the Right to Bear Arms’ states: ‘The First and Second Amendment guarantee freedom of speech and the right to bear arms.’
Musk’s goal was to target voters in swing states.
It says, “Our goal is to get 1 million registered voters in swing states to sign in support of the Constitution, especially free speech and the right to bear arms.”
At Saturday’s town hall, Musk explained the reasoning for the petition.
He said: ‘One of the challenges we have is, well, how do we make people aware of this petition?’
Musk claimed that the media “won’t report” what he’s doing, so he decided adding money to the mix would make him undeniably flashy.
X’s CEO promised Thursday to give $100 to every registered voter in Pennsylvania who signed. Pennsylvania voters can also earn $100 for each voter they submit a petition to.
John Dreher was the first person to receive $1 million for signing the petition.
Donald Trump addressed the crowd at a rally in Pennsylvania to gain support in the swing state. Musk is an avid Trump supporter
Musk also offered a financial reason to other swing states. Signers in Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina can earn $47 for each registered voter they send the document to.
The votes of the seven battleground states could determine the outcome of the Nov. 5 election.
So far, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has edged out Trump in early voting.
Democrats have been outperforming Republicans when it comes to showing up to vote early or casting absentee ballots.
