Tech billionaire and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has publicly endorsed Florida Senator Rick Scott for Senate GOP majority leader.
Musk’s endorsement, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, places him alongside a growing number of Trump allies backing Scott’s bid for the leadership role.
“Rick Scott for Senate Majority Leader!” Musk posted, rallying behind the Florida senator who is challenging more established figures like Senate Republican Whip John Thune of South Dakota and Senator John Cornyn of Texas, a previous GOP whip.
Musk’s post was made in response to Scott’s statement in support of a call from President-elect Donald Trump, who insisted that any Senate leadership hopefuls commit to supporting recess appointments—a measure aimed at expediting the confirmation process for Trump’s nominees.
Scott’s response to Trump was emphatic: “100% agree,” he wrote. “I will do whatever it takes to get your nominations through as quickly as possible.”
Musk’s endorsement adds further momentum to Scott’s campaign, which has already received backing from several GOP senators closely aligned with Trump.
Florida’s Marco Rubio, Tennessee’s Bill Hagerty, Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson, and Kentucky’s Rand Paul are among the senators who have publicly committed to voting for Scott as their choice for GOP leader in the Senate.
Rubio and Hagerty posted their support on social media over the weekend, signaling a unified push among Trump loyalists to see Scott secure the position.
Despite this high-profile support, Scott’s campaign for the leadership role faces significant hurdles. He’s up against seasoned senators like Thune and Cornyn, each of whom has built extensive networks within the Senate and held influential leadership roles.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has held the top Republican spot since 2007, remains a pivotal figure whose influence could shape the race’s outcome.
Scott’s allies hope Trump himself will formally endorse the Florida senator.
Though the president-elect has yet to make an official statement of support, Scott’s enthusiastic embrace of Trump’s priorities has drawn favorable attention from Musk and other MAGA-aligned figures who view him as a candidate willing to move quickly on Trump’s agenda.
In another post, Musk aimed at Scott’s rival, labeling Thune as the “top choice of Democrats.”
This remark hints at a broader narrative among Trump’s allies that Scott would better represent conservative interests than his competitors.
As the GOP reshapes its leadership in the Senate, Musk’s endorsement may influence more of the party’s voters and members, especially those loyal to Trump, to rally behind Scott.
However, the race remains competitive, and with figures like McConnell and other Senate mainstays involved, Scott’s path to victory may still be challenging.