The lie dominating Musk's 2026 political ads

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has plummeted. The Republican-controlled Congress, which reached “new lows for productivity,” is also historically unpopular. An April Gallup poll found that Americans’ disapproval of Congress hit 86%, “tying the record high for the institution.” As the midterm elections approach, the GOP finds itself defending seats in deep red states.

But Republicans do have one thing in their corner: the world’s richest person, Elon Musk.

After a falling out with Trump and the Republican Party last year, Musk has begun financially supporting Republicans again through his super PAC, America PAC. The New York Times reported in July that Musk “authorized his super PAC to spend $100 million to $120 million” to boost Republicans in the midterms.

How is Musk spending his ad dollars? He is playing the hits.

Across the country, Musk’s America PAC is spending money on advertising attacking Democrats for purportedly supporting “taxpayer-funded sex change surgeries on kids.” But gender-affirming surgeries are extremely rare for minors in the United States. A 2024 study by Harvard researchers “found little to no utilization of gender-affirming surgeries by transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) minors in the U.S.” And transgender youths themselves make up a very small part of the population.

Research has shown that gender-affirming care can be beneficial for the mental health of transgender youths and can save lives. But this care centers around supporting the children, not surgery.

Musk has spent years attacking trans people. Musk has an estranged transgender daughter, whom he has described as “dead, killed by the woke mind virus.” (In 2022, in a California court filing to change her name, Musk’s daughter wrote, “I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.”)

Across Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, and Alaska, Musk’s America PAC spent about $1 million on these ads between September 5 and 21. America PAC has spent the majority of this money attacking Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, spending over $500,000 in Texas.

But the claims in the ads are not true. None of the candidates being attacked by Musk’s super PAC actually support these surgeries for minors.

Texas

America PAC’s ads attacking Talarico reference a Fox News article from March 2026 which states, “[Talarico] also voted against a bill to ban sex change surgeries for children.” (The Fox News article never mentions taxpayer funding.)

The underlying bill, Texas SB 14, which Talarico voted against in 2023 as a state representative, not only banned surgery for minors, but other gender-affirming care. Talarico called the bill “overly broad” and instead supported an amendment to the bill that would have only banned surgery. (State Medicaid funding for “sex change operations” was already prohibited in Texas, including for adults, before SB 14 was passed.)

Earlier this month, Talarico said in an interview with Fox News that he does not support gender-affirming surgeries for minors. When asked if he would support a nationwide ban on such surgeries, Talarico said, “Absolutely.”

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