(José Niño, Headline USA) Speaker Mike Johnson disclosed to House Republicans in a private session Monday night that he had sat down with Elon Musk in Austin the prior week, according to Politico, which drew on accounts from two people who witnessed the exchange. Party leaders see the encounter as an opening to convince Musk to funnel resources into House contests before November.
Just the News reports Johnson shared word of the meeting with colleagues as he continues working to line up midterm funding. Politico had already flagged the upcoming sitdown between Johnson, Musk and other GOP figures the week before it happened, and the actual conversation unfolded last Friday while Johnson campaigned through swing districts in Texas that will help decide House control.
Musk has funneled significant money toward Republican candidates since throwing his support behind Trump’s 2024 campaign, yet his time running the Department of Government Efficiency created friction with some members of Congress, Just the News noted.
GOP officials now hope he channels a portion of the over $100 million he has reportedly set aside for the midterms into their campaigns through America PAC, a figure first reported by the New York Times, with the money likely going toward ground game operations and organizing rather than television ads.
Johnson gave no indication during the Monday briefing of whether Musk agreed to specific funding figures while in Austin, but attendees interpreted his remarks as a hint that spending would eventually materialize, the two sources told Politico. That optimism builds on earlier Axios reporting from late July that America PAC planned to invest in competitive races nationwide.
Representatives for both America PAC and Johnson’s office stayed silent when asked to comment on the meeting, Politico reported.
