Elon Musk Pledges $50,000,000,000 in Relief After Forming 'America Party' as Texas Flood Disaster Leaves Dozens Dead and Missing

Just hours after announcing the official formation of the "America Party" to challenge President Donald Trump in the 2028 election, Elon Musk made a second, equally shocking declaration: he is pledging $50 billion of his own fortune to assist in disaster relief and long-term recovery efforts following the devastating flash floods in Central Texas.

The billionaire’s announcement came amid rising national grief over one of the deadliest natural disasters in Texas history, with at least 78 people confirmed dead, dozens still missing—many of them children—and thousands more affected by the widespread destruction.

Musk’s financial commitment, the largest personal disaster relief donation in modern American history, was posted on his social media platform X late Sunday night. "This is not about politics. This is about people," Musk wrote. "America Party stands for action when it matters most. We will help every family, every rescue worker, and every child affected by this tragedy. $50 billion is just the beginning."

The pledge follows a flash flood that tore through Central Texas on Friday, triggered by days of relentless rainfall that oversaturated the region. The Guadalupe River, usually a calm fixture near summer camps and communities, swelled beyond its banks, sweeping away cars, homes, and tragically, lives.

Among the hardest-hit regions was Kerr County, where 68 people have been confirmed dead—40 adults and 28 children, according to Kerr County Sheriff Larry L. Leitha. Ten additional fatalities occurred in neighboring counties.

As of Sunday, more than 850 people had been rescued, many airlifted by helicopters as floodwaters submerged entire communities. Despite the heroic efforts of over 1,000 first responders, the search continues for ten missing girls and a counselor from Camp Mystic, a well-known Christian summer camp located next to the river.

“We’re doing everything we can to find their missing loved ones,” said W. Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. His voice cracked with emotion as he described the scale of the tragedy and the families still holding out hope.

Musk’s pledge was not just symbolic—it came with logistical backing. His message on X detailed how the funds would be allocated: immediate financial support for affected families, rebuilding of critical infrastructure, long-term mental health and education support for survivors, and reimbursement for local governments overwhelmed by the scale of the response.

Musk has also called upon Tesla, SpaceX, and his foundation to provide technical assistance, drones for search operations, mobile solar-powered shelters, and Starlink satellite connectivity for areas where communication has collapsed.

“Our national response mechanisms are failing. That’s why we act now, not next month, not next year. The America Party will stand where Washington stood still,” Musk said in a follow-up livestream, surrounded by engineers from his disaster response team.

While Musk’s actions were largely met with praise from citizens and volunteers on the ground, his gesture has also been politically interpreted. Just one day earlier, he shocked the political establishment by launching the America Party, positioning himself as a presidential candidate for the 2028 election.

The move was seen as a direct response to President Trump’s recently passed “Big, Beautiful Bill”, which Musk lambasted as a “disgusting abomination” that would increase the deficit by $2.5 trillion.

The flood disaster quickly became the first major national crisis in which Musk sought to demonstrate the values of his new political platform. "This isn't just a test for the country—it's a test for what a leader should be," he posted. “If we’re founding a new party, it has to mean something. That means being there when people need you most.”

Meanwhile, President Trump, who signed an emergency declaration for Kerr County earlier on Sunday, expressed his condolences while attending a Military Family Picnic. “God bless the people of Texas,” Trump said. “This is horrible, absolutely horrible. I plan to visit Central Texas on Friday to see the situation firsthand.”

However, the president deflected questions regarding his long-term support strategy, particularly about FEMA’s role. “We’ll talk about FEMA later,” he said, echoing his controversial stance about phasing out the agency.

Trump and Musk have been at odds for weeks, trading public jabs over policy, personal loyalty, and now disaster response. On Monday, Musk escalated the feud by accusing Trump of hypocrisy and cowardice, suggesting the president “shows up when the cameras do, not when the people are drowning.”

The comment sparked a new wave of media scrutiny, with pundits debating whether Musk’s philanthropic act was a genuine display of compassion or a strategic move to undercut Trump’s moral authority during a national emergency.

Back in Texas, search and rescue operations have expanded beyond Kerr County into San Saba and Burnet counties, where river flooding has continued to displace hundreds. Officials warn that the ground remains dangerously saturated, and even a small amount of additional rainfall could trigger more flash floods. Col. Freeman F. Martin, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, warned, “A little bit of rain can now do a lot of damage. This isn’t over.”

To make matters worse, heat, debris, venomous snakes, and impassable roads have made rescue efforts treacherous. More than 100 vehicles and 12 K-9 units are currently combing the affected areas. Authorities have also urged residents not to fly personal drones over search zones, as they interfere with official aerial surveillance and rescue drone operations.

A deeply emotional alert was sent to local phones Sunday afternoon: “Seek higher ground immediately. High confidence of flooding at the North Fork of the river.” The urgency is palpable across the state, and officials like Governor Greg Abbott have pleaded with citizens to take precautions.

“You may think you can drive through it, only to find out when you're in there that it's too late,” Abbott said. “Turn around, don’t drown.”

With thousands now displaced and entire communities destroyed, Musk’s $50 billion could play a critical role in recovery. Emergency analysts say the sum is enough to rebuild entire infrastructure systems in affected counties, provide housing for thousands of displaced families, and fund a rapid expansion of mental health resources for children traumatized by the event.

“This is the most Texas thing I’ve ever seen,” said one local volunteer helping with debris removal. “The water took everything from us in a flash. And here comes a guy from California putting his money where his mouth is.”

Whether Elon Musk’s actions mark the beginning of a serious presidential campaign or a well-timed philanthropic mission remains to be seen. But in Central Texas, where grief and survival go hand in hand, his name now means more than tweets and rockets—it means hope.

And for the families still waiting for news, still combing riverside mud for signs of the missing, it means they are not forgotten.