Trump praises Elon Musk as a “super genius” in his victory speech – ahead of his likely election victory

Topline

Donald Trump called Elon Musk a “new star” and a “super genius” and praised the billionaire, who was one of his campaign's biggest donors, in a victory speech early Wednesday in Florida, the Associated Press showed. He is just three electoral votes away to secure the presidency again.

Trump praised Elon Musk, one of the GOP candidate's biggest donors.

The Washington Post via Getty Images

Important facts

After thanking his family members, Vice President JD Vance and top GOP officials, Trump responded to an audience member who shouted Musk's name: “Let me tell you, we have a new star… a star is born, Elon.”

Trump told supporters that Musk “spent two weeks in Philadelphia and various parts of Pennsylvania campaigning” before heaping praise on the billionaire's rocket maker SpaceX.

The former president then said he asked Musk to provide Starlink services in North Carolina after the country was hit by Hurricane Helene, claiming it “saved many lives.”

“He's a character, he's a special guy, he's a super genius,” Trump said of Musk, adding: “We have to protect our geniuses, we don't have that many of them.”

Unlike some other people who were praised by Trump, Musk did not join him on stage.

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Big number

At least $118 million. That's the total amount Musk put into his America PAC to support Trump's campaign as of Oct. 16, federal filings show. This made the billionaire Trump's second largest donor after Timothy Mellon.

Forbes rating

By our estimates, Musk's net worth was $264.7 billion as of early Wednesday, making him the richest person in the world.

Crucial quote

Musk praised Trump's election performance earlier Tuesday, tweeting, “Game, set and win,” well before most networks called the race. Musk recently tweeted a photo of himself speaking at Trump's election night party and wrote, “America is a nation of builders” and “Soon you will be free to build.”