Source: The Washington Post / Getty
The Dark MAGA movement is rapidly gaining traction in the political sphere, with supporters rallying behind Elon Musk’s leadership in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and his unofficial advisory role to President Donald Trump since the 78-year-old Republican took office.
Per the Associated Press, on Feb. 20, Musk was spotted wearing a black variant of the iconic “Make America Great Again” hat while speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland. As he addressed the crowd, an overwhelming sea of black MAGA hats could be seen, with Musk, sporting a large chainsaw, black sunglasses, and a gold chain along with his cap, further cementing his growing influence within conservative circles.
This isn’t the first time he’s worn the popular hat.
According to Axios, the gothic-looking black caps, priced at $40, were first introduced during the 2024 campaign. Sales skyrocketed after Musk wore one at an October rally and proclaimed himself part of the “Dark MAGA” movement. Trump’s campaign has also capitalized on the trend, selling matching T-shirts and sweatshirts that raised $1.25 million for his 2024 bid. That number skyrocketed after Musk, 53, wore the Dark MAGA hat, again, during Monday’s CPAC event, generating $400,000 in additional sales, highlighting the commercial and political clout behind the movement.
For many of Musk’s supporters, the black MAGA hat is more than just a fashion statement; it symbolizes something deeper. At the CPAC rally, some fans were overheard calling the tech billionaire “a hero” of free speech and “a white knight,” lauding his actions since Trump’s inauguration, as reported by AP News.
Musk’s quasi-government agency, DOGE, has played a large role in shaping policies, including the “workforce optimization initiative” signed by President Trump on Feb. 11. According to USA Today, the initiative led to approximately 75,000 federal employees accepting buyouts, followed by mass layoffs within the Department of Education, the Department of Homeland Security, and several other government agencies. Many of these cuts affected workers still in their probationary periods, who are unable to appeal their termination. However, others, too, were impacted by the sweeping layoffs.
In addition to his efforts in government restructuring, Musk has also advocated for H-1B visas, which allow U.S. employers to temporarily hire highly skilled foreign workers in specialty occupations.
“He is an authentic and unique individual. I am glad he is on the team,” Whitney Mason, a 62-year-old real estate agent who was traveling from Seattle, told AP News.
House Speaker, Mike Johnson, echoed a similar sentiment at Monday’s rally. “What Elon and the team are doing is what Congress has not had the ability to do,” he said. “They have cracked the code. They’re inside the belly of the beast of the bureaucracy, and the algorithms are crawling through.”
Musk’s influence is poised to grow as Trump continues to publicly support his actions. On Feb. 22, the Republican leader posted on his Truth Social platform, urging Musk to “get more aggressive” with his policies.
“REMEMBER, WE HAVE A COUNTRY TO SAVE, BUT ULTIMATELY, TO MAKE GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE. MAGA!” he added.
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