Musk-Trump relationship is a ‘business deal’

(NewsNation) – Former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly says tech mogul Elon Musk’s support of former President Trump is likely a business deal focused on electric vehicle infrastructure, describing their relationship as “the art of deal’.

“The relationship between Musk and Trump is a business deal,” O’Reilly said Monday on NewsNation’s “On Balance.”

“In return, nothing is really defined, but I can tell you what Musk needs,” he continued. “He needs EV charging stations.”

O’Reilly speculated that Musk could benefit from government cooperation in installing charging stations if Trump wins the presidency, calling this “the likely quid pro quo.”

The comments came after Musk pledged on Saturday to give away $1 million every day until the November election to someone who signs his online petition, with the first prize awarded at a Political Action Committee event in support of Trump, which raised questions about the legality of the payments.

Musk gave a $1 million check to an attendee at his America PAC event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, aiming to rally supporters behind Trump.

The money is the latest example of Musk using his extraordinary wealth to influence the closely contested presidential race between Trump and his Democratic rival, Vice President Harris.

Musk founded America PAC, a political action organization he founded to support Trump’s presidential campaign. The group helps mobilize and register voters in battleground states, but there are signs that it is struggling to achieve its goals.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said Sunday that Musk’s plan to give money to registered voters in Pennsylvania is “very concerning” and “it’s something law enforcement could look into.”

There were many questions about the legality of these cash payments Saturday evening, as election law experts pointed to several provisions in federal law that prohibited making cash payments to voters.

It is a federal crime to pay people with the intent to induce or reward them to vote or register, a crime punishable by prison time. The ban covers not only monetary expenditures but also anything of monetary value, such as liquor or lottery odds, according to a Justice Department handbook on election crimes.

O’Reilly defended the legality of Musk’s lottery system while acknowledging concerns about money in politics.

“What Musk did was very smart. As far as my legal experts know, he has not broken any law because he is holding a lottery as an incentive to sign his petition,” he said. “That’s legal.”

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