Elon Musk Praises Tim Scott’s Political Ad Ahead of Senator’s Announcement Monday

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) speaks at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition in Clive, Iowa, on April 22, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Twitter and Tesla owner Elon Musk praised Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) for his message of “simple truths,” after the South Carolina senator filed paperwork to run for president in 2024.

In a 30-second video released on May 19, Scott warned how children are growing up in a culture where “everyone’s a victim” and youngsters need to be taught the importance of “individual responsibility.”

“If you are able-bodied, you work. If you take out a loan, you pay it back. If you commit a violent crime, you go to jail,” Scott said to an audience in the video. “Can I get an amen? I’m telling you the truth.”

Musk shared the video in a Twitter post on Friday and wrote, “Great statement by @votetimscott!”

The senator responded to Musk’s post by writing “This is our mission!” and told the Twitter chief that “we’ll save you a seat on Monday!”

2024 Bid

On Monday, Scott is expected to formally announce a 2024 White House bid in a rally at his alma mater Charleston Southern University in North Charleston, South Carolina.

In a statement late Sunday, Scott asked people to tune in to his Monday event, which will be broadcast online, during which he will make a “special announcement.”

“Tomorrow’s the big day, y’all,” Scott wrote on Twitter. “I’m living proof that America is the land of opportunity, not a land of oppression. But that’s not just my story, it’s all of our stories. I’m ready to get to work, will you join me?”

Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) speaks at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition in Clive, Iowa, on April 22, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Last month, Scott formed an exploratory committee, which allowed him to raise money while weighing a White House bid. In a video announcing the committee, Scott said he would “never back down in defense of the conservative values that make America exceptional.”

“[President] Joe Biden and the radical left have chosen a culture of grievance over greatness. They’re promoting victimhood instead of personal responsibility and they’re indoctrinating our children to believe we live in an evil country,” Scott added. “When I fought back against their liberal agenda, they called me a prop, a token, because I disrupt their narrative. I threaten their control.”

On May 19, the Federal Election Commission published records showing that Scott had filed paperwork for a 2024 presidential bid. A principal political committee, “Tim Scott for America,” was named in Scott’s filing.

If Scott enters the 2024 race, he would be the second Republican presidential hopeful from South Carolina, following former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. The former ambassador to the United Nations from 2017 to 2018 announced her candidacy in February.

Other major Republican 2024 challengers include former President Donald Trump, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and conservative radio host Larry Elder.

‘Great Personal Story’

Other potential GOP candidates include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

At least one GOP senator has chosen to endorse Scott for president. In an interview with Washington Examiner last week, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said he has told Scott that he would endorse him.

“I think he is the closest to [former President] Ronald Reagan that you’re going to see,” Rounds said.

“He'll bring our country together. He cares deeply about making the right decisions,“ Rounds added. ”I believe he will build a good team. He’s got a business background. He’s got a great personal story, and he understands and he truly cares about people.”

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) questions Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing titled The Financial Stability Oversight Council Annual Report to Congress, in Dirksen Senate Office Building on May 10, 2022 in Washington. Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images

Meanwhile, 11 GOP senators have chosen to endorse Trump, including Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and JD Vance (R-Ohio).

According to a recent RealClearPolitics aggregate of polls, Trump was leading other GOP presidential hopefuls with 56.3 percent of support, followed by DeSantis at 19.4 percent, Pence at 5.6 percent, Haley at 4.3 percent, Ramaswamy at 3.6 percent, and Scott at 1.8 percent.

According to a January survey (pdf) by the Trafalgar Group polling 1,078 likely voters in the South Carolina GOP presidential primary, Trump was in the lead with 43.4 percent of support, followed by DeSantis (27.8 percent), Scott (14.3 percent), and Haley (11.6 percent).