Elon Musk has re-engaged with the Republican Party, signaling his support for the GOP’s House and Senate campaigns in the 2026 midterm elections. This marks a shift in his relationship with former President Trump, indicating that their earlier tensions have eased.
Why This Matters: Musk, who had once threatened to back third-party candidates and challenge Republican incumbents amid a public feud with Trump, is now firmly back on the GOP’s side.
Sources close to the situation revealed to Axios that the tech billionaire has recently made significant financial contributions to Republican congressional races for the 2026 cycle. His involvement could provide a major advantage to Trump’s GOP as they work to defend their control of the House and Senate from Democratic challengers.
While the exact amount of Musk’s donations won’t be disclosed until the upcoming campaign finance filings, his backing could make a notable impact, especially considering that he was the largest donor to the 2024 election, contributing an astounding $291.5 million — the vast majority of which supported Trump’s reelection bid.
The Context: Musk’s renewed support comes after a high-profile dinner last month with Vice President J.D. Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Taylor Budowich, a former deputy chief of staff at the White House. The gathering, organized by Vance, took place at the Vice President’s residence at the Naval Observatory, with Musk’s trusted advisor, Jared Birchall, also in attendance.
After the 2024 election, Trump invited Musk to join his administration and oversee a federal cost-cutting initiative, which Musk dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Initially, the two developed a close relationship, with Musk even spending time at the White House. However, tensions arose in May after Musk left the administration, primarily due to Trump’s decision to withdraw the nomination of Musk ally Jared Isaacman to lead NASA.
Musk went on to criticize Trump’s policies, calling the president’s “big, beautiful bill” a “disgusting abomination” due to its high costs. Musk also pointed out Trump’s ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein and threatened to launch a third-party challenge under the banner of the “American Party.” Trump responded harshly, calling Musk “crazy” and expressing disappointment over the rift.
Recent Developments: Despite the earlier conflict, Musk later expressed regret over some of his comments and the two appeared to reconcile at a memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September. Trump and Musk allies now believe that Musk is unlikely to follow through on his earlier threats of ousting Republicans. Instead, they expect him to continue his role as a major Republican donor, contributing to the party’s campaign committees and Super PACs.
Behind Closed Doors: While Musk and Trump still communicate on occasion, sources say their relationship is not as close as it once was. Nevertheless, Trump has reportedly moved past the feud, and their alliance seems to be strengthening once again. Despite past disagreements, Trump’s team is confident that Musk will continue supporting the GOP in the 2026 midterms — a sign that their alliance is once again on solid ground.
