Elon Musk Joins Trump At Rally In Butler, Site Of July Attack

WASHINGTON, Oct 6 (Bernama-dpa) -- Donald Trump, the Republican candidate in the US presidential election, brought tech billionaire Elon Musk to the stage on Saturday as the former president returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, the site of an assassination attempt in mid-July, the German news agency (dpa) reported.

Musk echoed many of the talking points used by Trump and his vice presidential running mate JD Vance.

The tech entrepreneur, who started Tesla and Space X and also owns the social media platform X, called the November 5 election "the most important election of our lifetime".

"The other side wants to take away your freedom of speech. They want to take away your right to bear arms," he told the crowd, adding that "they want to take away your right to vote."

At the site of the rally in Butler, a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man shot at the former president at a campaign event, injuring him in the right ear. The shooter was killed by security forces.

"President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution. He must win to preserve democracy in America," Musk said. 

"If they don't, this will be the last election. That's my prediction."

In fact Trump is accused by Democrats - and many Republicans - of trying to subvert the Constitution and the will of US voters by attempting to get the 2020 election overturned. 

Musk, who often gives conspiracy theories a platform, has been supporting Trump for quite some time. The Tesla boss also regularly criticises Trump's opponent Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump had recently hinted that Musk could head a committee to audit US finances if he wins the election. Musk should cut government spending, Trump said.

-- BERNAMA-dpa