Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is offering Wisconsin residents $100 to sign a petition that criticizes “activist” judges, collecting large amounts of voter data just days before an important state Supreme Court election.
Recently, Donald Trump and Musk have been criticizing a federal judge who challenged the administration’s decision to deport what they called Venezuelan gang members. These individuals were sent to a prison in El Salvador without proper legal process, against a federal court order.
Now, Musk is trying to sway public opinion by circulating a petition that opposes “activist” judges and offers people money to sign it.
The petition reads: “By signing below, I’m rejecting the actions of activist judges who impose their own views and demanding a judiciary that respects its role—interpreting, not legislating,” as reported by Axios.
Musk’s petition comes just a week before Wisconsin’s Supreme Court election, where Musk has already donated a large sum—$20 million—to conservative candidate Brad Schimel.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court will soon decide on important issues such as the use of voter drop boxes, abortion rights, and redrawing congressional maps. If conservatives win a majority on the court, it could affect the outcome of these cases with national consequences.
While Musk won’t know how petition signers feel, he will collect their contact information. This allows him to reach out to them later, especially during the final days leading up to the April 1 election.
On Truth Social, Trump posted, “No District Court Judge, or any Judge, can assume the duties of the President of the United States. Only Crime and Chaos would result. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
In another post, Trump warned, “Unlawful Nationwide Injunctions by Radical Left Judges could very well lead to the destruction of our Country! These people are Lunatics, who do not care, even a little bit, about the repercussions from their very dangerous and incorrect Decisions and Rulings.” He also urged judges to stop blocking his potentially unlawful actions.
Musk’s actions mirror his controversial decision to pay voters ahead of the 2024 elections in exchange for their support—a move widely condemned by election experts as “illegal.”
