Trump praises Musk’s planned SpaceX share gift for children

Trump responds to Musk’s pledge

International Business Times UK reports that US President Donald Trump praised Elon Musk on Monday, 19 October, after Musk said he would give one SpaceX share to every child in America in 2027. Trump called Musk his “legendary friend” and thanked him for his “incredible generosity.” He also said the idea could give every American child “a piece of the American Dream.”

The source says Trump described the plan as something that could work through his administration’s Trump Accounts programme. It also notes that Musk had not yet explained how families would actually receive the shares, and that the announcement concerned a future gift rather than shares already transferred.

What Musk said and the estimated value

According to the article, Musk posted on X: “Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America. This will be the first of many.” International Business Times UK says the proposal could be worth about $10.5 billion at recent market prices, based on more than 72 million children under 18 in the United States.

The report says SpaceX shares closed at $146.03 on Friday, 16 October, according to the Associated Press. It also says the value estimate is not a confirmed donation and could change if the share price moves before any distribution. The source adds that Musk has not clarified whether “every kid” means all children living in America or only those with US citizenship.

Questions about Trump Accounts and federal rules

The article says Trump’s endorsement pointed to Trump Accounts, a tax-advantaged investment programme for eligible children under 18. According to the White House, nearly 70 million accounts had been created by 7 October, including more than 60 million through automatic enrolment. The source says parents or guardians can claim the accounts through the programme’s app.

International Business Times UK reports that US citizens born between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2028 can receive a separate federal payment of $1,000 if they meet IRS requirements, including a valid Social Security number and an appropriate election. The article says that government payment is separate from Musk’s proposed SpaceX shares.

The source also says the Treasury said in July that it would accept approved publicly traded shares from philanthropic donors to support Trump Accounts. However, it notes that IRS rules generally limit account investments to qualifying broad-market index funds. Officials have not said whether Musk’s shares would be converted into allowed investments or what would be credited to account holders, and the article says the donation pathway does not mean his offer has been processed.

Comparison with Anthropic and remaining uncertainties

International Business Times UK says Musk’s announcement followed a different corporate-giving model from Anthropic’s. On Sunday, 18 October, Anthropic said it would place 5% of its shares into a Public Benefit Fund, subject to shareholder approval. The company said the fund would be able to make charitable donations or distributions to selected groups, and that it could add another 2% of shares if its valuation rises 50% above certain thresholds.

The report says Musk replied on X, “I recommend giving the shares directly to the public.” His SpaceX pledge, the article notes, focused on children rather than a centrally managed public benefit fund. The source also says reactions on Reddit were mixed, but that the comments cited do not represent wider public opinion.

The article says Musk has not announced a specific 2027 distribution date or explained what parents would need to do. It also remains unclear whether every eligible Trump Account would receive a SpaceX share or an investment of equal value.