Scoop: Musk diving into 2026 midterms for the GOP
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Elon Musk has begun funding the GOP's House and Senate campaigns for the 2026 midterms — an indication his relationship with President Trump has thawed since their messy breakup earlier this year.
Why it matters: Musk — who threatened to launch a third party and support challengers to Republican incumbents during his dispute with Trump — is now firmly back in the GOP's camp.
- The tech billionaire recently cut big checks to help Republicans win congressional races next year and indicated he'd give more throughout the 2026 cycle, two sources with knowledge of the situation tell Axios.
Zoom in: Musk's donation amounts won't be disclosed publicly until campaign finance reports are released next month. But his support could be a huge boost for Trump's Republicans next year as they try to stop Democrats from reclaiming power in Congress, particularly the House.
- Musk, the world's richest person, was the biggest donor in the 2024 campaign, giving a mind-boggling $291.5 million — the vast majority to boost Trump's reelection effort.
The intrigue: Musk's latest donations came after he had dinner last month with Vice President Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Taylor Budowich, a former White House deputy chief of staff who's still wired into the administration.
- Vance, who's close to Musk, helped organize the dinner at the vice president's residence at the Naval Observatory.
- Jared Birchall, a low-profile Musk lieutenant who plays a key role in managing Musk's political giving, was also present.
The backstory: After the 2024 election, Trump invited Musk into the administration to oversee the federal cost-cutting effort Musk dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
- The two grew close in the early days of Trump's second term, and Musk spent some nights at the White House.
But after Musk departed the administration in May, he and Trump had a bitter falling out. Musk was angered by, among other things, Trump's decision to withdraw the nomination of Musk ally Jared Isaacman to lead NASA.
- Musk called Trump's "big, beautiful bill" a "disgusting abomination" because of its high costs, highlighted Trump's ties to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and threatened to form what he called the American Party to run his favored candidates for Congress.
- Trump called Musk "crazy" and said he was "disappointed" in him.
Musk later acknowledged "regret" over some of his remarks about Trump, and the two spoke at the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September.
- Now, Trump and Musk allies say they're near-certain Musk won't follow through on his threat to try to oust Republicans.
- Instead, they say, he's positioning himself as a traditional Republican donor who sends big checks to the party's campaign arms and super PACs.
What they're saying: Representatives for Trump and Musk declined to comment, as did spokespeople for the pro-GOP House and Senate super PACs.
Behind the scenes: Trump and Musk speak occasionally, and Musk attended a White House dinner that Trump held last month for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- Trump has moved on from his fight with Musk, sources familiar with his thinking say.
- His relationship with Musk has improved, the sources say — but the pair will never be as close as they once were.
