Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, made headlines recently after attending a Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he introduced himself as “Dark MAGA.” Speaking to the crowd, Musk said, “As you can see, I’m not just MAGA, I’m dark MAGA,” which was met with applause. This appearance marked a clear alignment between the tech billionaire and former US President Trump as the 2024 election, set for November 5, approaches.
What is Dark ‘MAGA’?
At the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Elon Musk wore a “Make America Great Again” cap and an “Occupy Mars” shirt, introducing himself as “Dark MAGA” to the crowd. While MAGA has long been associated with Trump’s political movement, “Dark MAGA” is a lesser-known term, typically linked to far-right fringe groups. This concept represents a more aggressive, authoritarian version of Trump’s ideals, portraying him as a powerful figure determined to restore America by any means necessary. Though “Dark MAGA” began as an internet meme, Musk’s public embrace of it is viewed as an endorsement of this intensified vision of the movement, as reported by the Independent.
American magazine Newsweek describes Dark MAGA as more of a meme than a political slogan: “Dark MAGA is a post-alt-right aesthetic that promotes an authoritarian version of Trump in dystopian, Terminator-like images. In some, the Trump Tower is painted entirely in black and the former president is seen piercing through the screen with blue laser eyes.”
Dark MAGA aims to push more extreme narratives and aesthetics into the mainstream Trump movement. It borrows heavily from the vaporwave aesthetic, which was itself co-opted by “fashwave,” an 80s neon-coloured trend associated with white nationalists. Additionally, Dark MAGA takes cues from the “skull mask” movement, which introduces mainstream conservatives to more radical parts of the right by blending Trump memes with these visuals, as per Newsweek.
Musk’s support for Trump
At the rally, Musk referred to Trump as “brave” and highlighted the former president’s resilience, referencing a recent assassination attempt against Trump in July at the same venue. He contrasted Trump’s response to that incident with President Biden, criticising Biden for not being able to “climb a flight of stairs.”
Musk has created a super PAC to bolster Trump’s campaign, particularly in key battleground states. His involvement has grown closer to Trump both publicly and privately, with Musk promising to help rally voter turnout for the 2024 election.
Musk’s role in the political landscape
Musk’s political leanings have been the subject of speculation for years. His criticisms of the “woke mind virus” and advocacy for free speech, particularly after his acquisition of Twitter (now rebranded as X), have drawn him closer to right-wing politics, as reported by the Independent. Critics have long suspected his alignment with the conservative movement, which became even more apparent during this election cycle.
In Butler, Musk reiterated his concerns that the Democrats would strip Americans of their rights, claiming that they aim to take away “your freedom of speech, your right to bear arms, [and] your right to vote, effectively.” Despite these claims, Musk does not have a formal political background, yet his influence, particularly through X, has become a powerful tool for amplifying messages.
As the rally concluded, Musk made his unwavering support for Trump’s re-election clear, warning of the high stakes involved. He cautioned the crowd with a stark prediction: “If they don’t, this will be the last election.” His comments, drew significant attention, with many critics accusing Musk of fear-mongering as he further aligned himself with Trump’s cause.