As John Deaton vies for a U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts, he finds himself grappling with a surprising endorsement from tech billionaire Elon Musk, a high-profile supporter of former President Donald Trump. Though Deaton has made clear he does not support Trump, Musk’s backing has added an unexpected dimension to his campaign against incumbent Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Deaton, a Republican and personal injury attorney with a strong interest in cryptocurrency, acknowledged the endorsement but clarified that he did not seek Musk’s support. “I’m not going to shy away from it,” Deaton told reporters following a press conference at the Massachusetts State House. “If the richest man in the world who is the greatest entrepreneur of our time wants to say John Deaton is better for the country, I’ll take that.”
Musk’s endorsement of Deaton came through a one-word comment on X, formerly known as Twitter, where he shared a post by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. Armstrong’s original post criticized Warren’s positions on cryptocurrency, urging Massachusetts voters to back Deaton. Musk simply retweeted the post, adding “Yes” — a succinct show of support that Deaton has since referenced and utilized in fundraising efforts.
In the final days before Election Day, Deaton, who trails Warren by more than 20 points in recent polls, is focusing on portraying himself as a moderate, pro-business Republican while positioning himself against Warren, who has long criticized corporations and wealthy individuals. Part of Deaton’s strategy includes highlighting support from high-profile business figures, including both Musk and Mark Cuban. Cuban, known for his role on Shark Tank, is an outspoken Warren critic who is backing Vice President Kamala Harris for president, making his support of Deaton particularly notable. “I’m the only guy in America that could get Mark Cuban and Elon Musk to agree,” Deaton said. “When you take my approach, I would welcome Vice President Harris supporters and Donald Trump supporters.”
However, Deaton’s acceptance of Musk’s endorsement has raised questions about his anti-Trump stance. Musk, a vocal supporter of Trump, has stirred controversy with various statements, including comments that critics claim incite division. Some recent statements from Musk include joking remarks about the assassination of Democrats and the promotion of debunked conspiracy theories regarding election integrity.
This controversy, however, has not deterred Deaton’s campaign from leveraging Musk’s support in fundraising efforts. In a campaign ad on X, Deaton stated, “I’m honored to have Elon Musk’s endorsement. As a pro-freedom candidate, I’m not part of the broken Washington system that has let down so many Massachusetts voters.” When asked about his willingness to accept endorsements from figures like Musk, Deaton responded, “If Donald Trump endorsed me today, what do I do? Do I say I reject that? He’s not going to, but if he did, I can’t control that … By me saying hey, look, Elon Musk endorsed me, doesn’t mean that I am validating everything Elon Musk has ever said or done.”
Despite his distance from Trump’s policies, Deaton’s campaign rhetoric has reflected ideas aligned with Musk and Trump. During a press conference that centered on Warren’s economic policies, Deaton expressed his intent to sponsor a bill to establish a “Government Efficiency Commission” to audit federal spending. He later acknowledged that the proposal was inspired by Musk and Trump. “Regardless of party or personality, the idea is a GREAT one,” he shared on X.
In a state that heavily leans Democratic, the impact of Musk’s endorsement on Deaton’s campaign remains uncertain. Warren has cast Deaton as a candidate supported by cryptocurrency billionaires and has called into question his commitment to the issues faced by Massachusetts voters. Deaton, however, maintains that his approach can appeal to a broad coalition, including Trump supporters, without explicitly endorsing Trump himself.
Deaton described his approach to addressing Trump supporters as validating their right to their views without endorsing the former president. “What I did on the debate stage is I tried to validate why people would vote for President Trump, without validating President Trump,” he explained. “I don’t think you should take the position that if someone votes for President Trump, that that makes them a bad person. I reject that.”
As Election Day nears, Deaton continues to grapple with the complex dynamics of political endorsements. With Musk’s support adding a new dimension to his campaign, Deaton faces the challenge of navigating a political landscape that is, at times, as unpredictable as his endorsers.
