SpaceX and Tesla owner Elon Musk recently donated to several Republican campaigns ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The donations signal that the world’s richest man is once again planning to use his influence to back the GOP, just months after he floated the idea of launching a third party amid a public feud with President Donald Trump.

Musk “cut big checks” for Republicans as the party seeks to hold onto both chambers of Congress in the upcoming midterms, Axios reported, citing two sources. Musk also reportedly suggested he would make more donations to Republicans in the future.

Musk spent around $240 million backing Trump and Republicans in 2024 through his political action committee and was then given an advisory role in the White House, which he used to push for major cuts to government spending. Musk’s time in the White House, however, was short, and amid a bitter falling out with Trump and the GOP over the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” he said in May that he would dial back his spending on future elections.

“I think I’ve done enough,” Musk said at the time, adding, “If I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I will do it. I do not currently see a reason.”

In early June, the feud between Musk and Trump escalated, with the president saying that Musk “just went CRAZY,” and Musk firing back by accusing Trump of covering up the Epstein files.

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“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” Musk said in a now-deleted social media post.

The entrepreneur’s relationship with Trump has appeared to heal since his dramatic exit from his position as the president’s adviser. Trump and Musk were seen chatting during the memorial service for Charlie Kirk in September. Musk also attended a dinner at the White House for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last month.

Musk’s reported donations to Republicans come after he had dinner with Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles last month, Axios reported. Vance hosted the dinner at the vice president’s residence, and Musk’s wealth manager, Jared Birchall, was also in attendance.

The donations will be made public when campaign finance reports are released next month. Republicans are preparing for a hotly contested election cycle as they defend their majorities in the House and the Senate. Current polls and public opinion suggest that Democrats are poised to take control of the House, which would severely limit Trump’s agenda for the final two years of his term.

During his feud with the president, Musk also said that Trump would have lost the 2024 election without him and claimed “Dems would control the House.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a total of 18 state waivers to create healthier options for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps.

Six more states recently submitted waivers to the USDA to reform food stamp options, removing junk food, including sodas and candy. Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee have all had their waivers approved by the agency.

In total, 18 states are now on track for food stamp reforms, all set to go into effect sometime in 2026. The twelve other states in the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) fold are Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.

Sixteen of the 18 states are notably considered red states; the only two Democratic-run states that have submitted the health waivers are Colorado and Hawaii.

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Every state is banning the purchase of soda with food stamps, with some states also banning sweetened beverages and energy drinks. States such as Arkansas, Idaho, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas are banning candy purchases through SNAP.

West Virginia, Utah, Nebraska, Iowa, and Indiana will make their MAHA changes effective January 1, 2026. Other states will follow, with the last implementation set to take effect in Missouri in October 2026.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

The changes have been a joint effort between Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins.

“Thank you to the 18 governors who are leading the charge on SNAP reform to restore the health of Americans — especially our kids. Their courageous leadership is exactly what we need to Make America Healthy Again,” Kennedy said in a statement about the momentum. “We cannot continue a system that forces taxpayers to fund programs that make people sick and then pay a second time to treat the illnesses those very programs help create.”

Rollins highlighted President Donald Trump’s involvement, stating, “President Trump has made it clear: we are restoring SNAP to its true purpose – nutrition.”

“Under the MAHA initiative, we are taking bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic disease epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long,” Rollins added. “America’s governors are answering that call with courage and innovation, offering solutions that honor the generosity of the taxpayer while helping families live longer, healthier lives.”

Related: ‘McSCUSE ME?’: 11 States Allow ‘Nutritional’ Food Stamps To Be Spent At Fast Food Restaurants