Trump dismisses Musk's political endeavor as preposterous
Elon Musk, the visionary CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has made a bold move in the political arena by launching a new third political party called the America Party. The initiative aims to challenge what Musk describes as the current "one-party system" in the United States, characterised by wasteful spending and graft.
The announcement of the America Party came after a public falling out between Musk and President Donald Trump, who was once Musk’s close ally. The rift intensified over Trump's "big beautiful bill," a massive tax and spending package that Musk believed would dangerously increase the federal deficit.
Trump has publicly ridiculed Musk's America Party, dismissing the idea as "ridiculous" and warning it would cause confusion. He emphasized the historic dominance of the two-party system and expressed skepticism that a third party could succeed, describing Musk himself as a "train wreck" who has gone "off the rails."
As of early July 2025, Musk has not yet completed the formal legal steps to register the America Party with the Federal Election Commission, and no detailed concrete plan or structure for the party has been publicly outlined. Musk has hinted at financially supporting candidates sympathetic to his goals, such as backing Rep. Thomas Massie against Trump-backed challengers.
However, establishing a viable third party faces significant legal and regulatory challenges, such as complex state ballot access laws. The immediate political influence of the America Party remains uncertain and likely limited at this stage.
The launch of the America Party has introduced fresh tension in US politics by fracturing what was once a close alliance with Trump and highlighting dissatisfaction with the entrenched two-party system.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent believes that Elon Musk is better at running his companies than politics. Musk resigned from any political roles in May to concentrate on his companies. Their relationship between Musk and Trump soured after the initial grand send-off, with the boards of Musk's companies also reportedly urging him to focus on running the companies rather than politics.
The America Party, if successful, could potentially influence swing districts but faces steep hurdles. The historical difficulty of third parties gaining traction in the US political landscape suggests an uncertain outlook for Musk's new political movement.
References: [1] CNN, "Elon Musk announces the America Party," 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/01/politics/elon-musk-america-party/ [2] Washington Post, "Elon Musk and Donald Trump: A public feud," 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/02/elon-musk-donald-trump-feud/ [4] New York Times, "Elon Musk's America Party: A new challenge to the two-party system," 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/politics/elon-musk-america-party.html
- Elon Musk's new political venture, the America Party, is aimed at challenging the perceived "one-party system" in the United States, which he characterizes as wasteful and riddled with corruption.
- Musk's announcement of the America Party came after a falling out with President Trump, with their disagreement intensifying over Trump's proposed tax and spending package, dubbed the "big beautiful bill," which Musk believed would exacerbate the federal deficit.
- Despite Musk's efforts, the immediate political influence of the America Party remains uncertain due to significant legal and regulatory challenges, such as complex state ballot access laws.
- While US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent believes Musk is more adept at running his companies than politics, the America Party, if successful, could potentially sway opinions in swing districts, though its long-term prospects in the historically rigid two-party system are uncertain.
