8 June 2025

Senator Cory Booker Declines Campaign Donations from Elon Musk, Citing Ethical Concerns

On Sunday, Senator Cory Booker announced that he would not accept campaign contributions from tech billionaire Elon Musk. However, he called on Musk to contribute in a more meaningful way to the Democratic effort opposing a significant GOP-backed spending bill. “This bill is disastrous for our long-term economy,” Booker stated during an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”

He emphasized the importance of Musk not merely tweeting but actively pressuring Congress to reject the bill. When asked directly if he would accept campaign funding from Musk, Booker firmly responded, “I would not accept money from Elon Musk for my campaign, but I would be supportive of anybody, including Elon Musk, putting resources forward to inform more Americans about this bill.” His comments come amid other Democrats, such as Representative Ro Khanna of California, suggesting Musk could find a place within the Democratic Party after a public feud between Musk and former President Donald Trump emerged last week.

The conflicts began when Musk described the spending bill as a “disgusting abomination” on social media. In retaliation, Trump accused Musk of being “crazy” and “wearing thin” in posts on his platform, Truth Social. Musk also leveled accusations against Trump for ingratitude, following his considerable financial backing of Trump’s campaign.

In a recent phone interview, Trump indicated he has no inclination to mend his relationship with Musk. He warned that if Musk decides to support Democrats in future elections, he might face “serious consequences.” Meanwhile, House Republicans passed a significant domestic policy bill that could lead to cuts in essential services, increasing scrutiny from Democrats. Booker reiterated that approval of the bill would result in heightened costs for average Americans, highlighting the need for urgency in opposing it.