Billionaires Invest Staggering Sums Into Electing Trump

Elon Musk, Miriam Adelson and Richard Uihlein Gave Trump $220 Million

Q3 Campaign donation filings are being reported now. The biggest news is that three billionaires gave Donald Trump a total of $220 million combined in July, August, and September. Miriam Adelson, widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, gave $95 million. The world's richest man, Elon Musk, gave $75 million. Schlitz beer heir and owner of the U-line packaging supplies company Richard Uihlein gave $50 million. Trump is clearly much beloved by billionaires.

Each of them probably has a different motivation, although when you are a multibillionaire, giving a campaign $50-100 million is small potatoes. Adelson, who was born in Israel, really has only one issue: Israel. She wants a president she trusts to support Israel, no matter how many college students demonstrate in favor of the Palestinians. She likes Trump's Middle East policy: What Bibi wants, Bibi gets. Musk wants to be important and maybe get a position in the Trump administration where he can change the country to be more billionaire friendly, possibly by eliminating or sabotaging anti-poverty and other programs that are of no use to billionaires. He would love to put the kibosh on a few ongoing federal investigations, as well. Uihlein usually keeps a low profile and never does interviews"the exact opposite of Musk"but he has been a Republican megadonor for decades. He probably doesn't want any personal favors from Trump, just low taxes for billionaires.

The Adelsons and Uihleins have been donating to Republicans since forever, but Musk is new to the game. Despite that, he has inserted himself into the campaign in a big way, talking to Trump multiple times a week. With Musk, separating his personal interests from his business interests is increasingly difficult. It could cost him. Last week the California Coastal Commission rejected SpaceX's plans to launch more rockets from Vandenberg Air Force Base, citing his political antics as a reason. He is also butting heads with the FAA over launch requirements. So far, his tweets and behavior have not affected SpaceX getting government contracts, but if Kamala Harris becomes commander in chief, she could decide that having a healthy Boeing Corporation is in the national interest and use her power to send military and space contracts in that direction. That it would hurt Musk would just be the cherry on the sundae.

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