Elon Musk has endorsed Donald Trump for president, after the presidential hopeful was shot at a Pennsylvania rally.
Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), used the platform to tell his 189m followers:
“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”
I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery pic.twitter.com/ZdxkF63EqF
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2024
He then reposted a report from a man claiming to be a eye witness, who told BBC News that he had informed police and Secret Service about a man on the roof with a rifle.
Musk wrote:
“The head of the Secret Service and the leader of this security detail should resign.”
He also reposted another message from someone asking how such an apparent line of sight between the roof and Trump’s position on the platform had not been secured, and Musk added:
“Extreme incompetence or it was deliberate. Either way, the SS leadership must resign.”
This was the first time Musk had endorsed Trump. Previously asked about the election during an interview at the Cannes Lions Festival last month, he said only: “It’s going to be interesting.”
Trump was shot in the ear as he was addressing the crowd on stage. The FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, PA. Authorities said that they were still trying to determine a motive.
The gunman was killed by counter snipers after he fired shots from the rooftop of a nearby building, according to eyewitness accounts.