Elon Musk’s $20.5 million donation to a pro-Trump PAC ties his abortion stance to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, sparking backlash from her family

Elon Musk has made a significant contribution to a political action committee (PAC) backing former President Donald Trump, donating over $20 million to support the message that Trump’s stance on abortion aligns with the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s views. This PAC, known as the pro-Trump RBG PAC, ran controversial ads during the final days of the 2024 election campaign.

The ads sought to defend Trump’s abortion position, claiming he would not sign a national abortion ban, which the PAC portrayed as being in line with Ginsburg’s liberal views. This claim, however, caused an uproar, especially when the RBG PAC’s website featured a striking image of Trump alongside Ginsburg, with the phrase “Great Minds Think Alike.” The use of Ginsburg’s image and name to support Trump’s re-election bid was met with severe criticism, particularly from Ginsburg’s own family.

Clara Spera, Ginsburg’s granddaughter, voiced her outrage, calling the PAC’s message “appalling.” Spera told the New York Times that the attempt to connect the late justice with Trump’s abortion stance was disrespectful, emphasising that Ginsburg’s legacy was not one of supporting the former president’s position on abortion.

Musk, who has been a vocal supporter of Trump and his political agendas, is also set to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the incoming Trump administration. His financial backing of Trump’s campaign has been substantial, with reports showing Musk has donated over $250 million in total. Of this, the $20.5 million to the RBG PAC was the largest individual donation Musk made in support of the former president’s re-election bid.

Trump, who has faced intense scrutiny over his position on abortion following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, has fluctuated in his rhetoric on the issue. Initially, Trump claimed credit for the Supreme Court’s decision, which saw the federal abortion protections dismantled. He credited his appointments of conservative justices for the ruling. However, in the years following, Trump softened his stance, asserting that abortion laws should be decided at the state level. He also declared that, if elected again, he would veto a national abortion ban.

This latest donation by Musk, and the PAC’s controversial use of Ginsburg’s image, has drawn renewed attention to the deep divide over abortion politics in the United States. While Musk’s financial backing signals his strong support for Trump, it also highlights the continuing battles over reproductive rights, with differing views within the Republican Party itself about the path forward.

As the 2024 election cycle continues, this saga serves as a reminder of the intense political and personal stakes surrounding the abortion debate, and how figures like Musk are shaping the discourse with their significant financial contributions.