Musk’s comments came after 97 percent of people in a survey chose Mr. Paul as the Senate leader.
Elon Musk extended support to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to lead the Republican Party in the Senate after the current leader, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), retires this year.
On March 8, Mr. Paul held a survey on X, asking people to choose from three candidates for the post of Senate leader—himself, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D), or Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). He received 96.6 percent support, with each of the two other candidates only getting less than two percent backing. Responding to the poll, Mr. Musk said in an X post that it would be “interesting to see the other Senate leadership candidates run similar polls.” The billionaire then extended support for Mr. Paul.
Would be interesting to see the other Senate leadership candidates run similar polls
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 8, 2024
“I would support Rand Paul and suspect that other candidates will not actually run polls out of concern for the results, but let’s see if they will!” Mr. Musk said in a March 9 X post.
In his comment on the survey results, Mr. Paul suggested that the Republican establishment may not prefer him as the Senate leader.
I would support Rand Paul and suspect that other candidates will not actually run polls out of concern for the results, but let’s see if they will!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 8, 2024
“With a 97 percent majority, grassroots demand leadership committed to America 1st, defending the ENTIRE Bill of Rights, and ending wasteful spending. This vote is a wake-up call for the establishment: their influence dwindles beyond DC. If only the leadership election took place online.”
The poll comes as Mr. McConnell announced late last month that he will step down from the post of Senate GOP leader in November. He has held the post since 2007.
In addition to Mr. Musk, Mr. Paul has received backing from several influential people. “The next senate leader should be Rand Paul,” said John Dennis, chairman of the San Francisco Republican Party.
The next senate leader should be Rand Paul. https://t.co/njqvkGS1Fn
— John Dennis (@RealJohnDennis) March 8, 2024
“Rand Paul is one of the few politicians in DC who actually ‘gets it,’” Kyle Becker, CEO of Becker News and former associate producer at Fox News, said in a March 9 X post. “I’d be thrilled if he were Senate Republican leader.”
Rand Paul is one of the few politicians in DC who actually ‘gets it.’ I’d be thrilled if he were Senate Republican leader
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) March 8, 2024
Simon Ateba, chief White House correspondent at Today News Africa in Washington, asked people to like his X post if they want to see Mr. Paul as the next Senate leader. The post received over 99,000 likes.
If you would like to see Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) replace Senator Mitch McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) as Senate Minority Leader, kindly like this post. pic.twitter.com/qnxyF1bkl9
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) February 28, 2024
“I can now safely say that with nearly 100,000 people liking this post since I made it 48 hours ago, the base wants Rand Paul to replace Mitch McConnell as GOP Senate Leader, but will the RINOs allow it? Only time will tell,” he wrote on March 2.
I can now safely say that with nearly 100,000 people liking this post since I made it 48 hours ago, the base wants Rand Paul to replace Mitch McConnell as GOP Senate Leader, but will the RINOs allow it? Only time will tell. https://t.co/gJXYkRt03p
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) March 2, 2024
