Fact Check: Is Elon Musk funding Donald Trump’s 'extravagant' inauguration celebration?
WASHINGTON, DC: As speculation grows about an "extravagant" inauguration for Donald Trump's second term, rumors are swirling that tech billionaire Elon Musk may be footing the bill for the celebration.
The rumors have ignited both curiosity and confusion, especially following the public interactions and mutual support between Musk and Trump that have made headlines in recent years.
Claim: Elon Musk will fund Donald Trump’s inauguration
According to Snopes, a Facebook page called "America - Love It or Leave It" made a claim on November 14, stating, "Elon Musk is footing the bill for the most extravagant inauguration bash of all time: "Let's welcome him back the right way.""
Some Facebook users appeared to believe the rumor was true.
The speculation intensified after a sequence of tweets by Musk and his sporadic public backing of Trump. In 2020, Musk acknowledged his respect for Trump's business savvy, and they have convened several times, with recent discussions focusing on space exploration and electric vehicles.
Their relatively amicable rapport and Musk's prominence as one of the richest individuals globally rendered him susceptible to such rumors.
Fact check: No evidence Elon Musk is funding Donald Trump’s inauguration
There was no evidence to suggest that Elon Musk had made such a promise, and no reputable news sources had reported on such a story.
The claim originated from "America - Love It or Leave It", a Facebook page that characterizes its content as satirical. The introduction of the account states, "A subsidiary of the America's Last Line of Defense network of trollery and propaganda for cash. Nothing on this page is real."
In mid-December 2016 and mid-January 2017, the Washington Post and The New York Times reported that inauguration ceremonies and related events are financed through both private donations and taxpayer funds. The Federal Election Commission has made similar statements on its website.
The FEC explained, "Foreign nationals are prohibited from making and inaugural committees are prohibited from knowingly accepting donations from foreign nationals."
While Elon Musk is a US citizen and could theoretically contribute to Trump's inauguration, no announcement has been made regarding such a contribution.
The narrative unfolded following Trump's nomination of Musk to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency.
America's Last Line of Defense is known for fabricating stories to garner shares and comments, occasionally using artificial intelligence (AI) software for its narrative creation.
