Tech billionaire Elon Musk has announced the formation of a new political party, the America Party, in what appears to be a direct challenge to the longstanding two-party system in the United States. The revelation came through Musk’s social media platform X, marking a significant escalation in his public feud with former ally, President Donald Trump.
In his announcement, Musk wrote: “By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it! When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”
The move follows weeks of political drama after Musk stepped down from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), a position he was appointed to after heavily backing Trump’s campaign financially reportedly to the tune of $250 million. The fallout began when Musk criticized Trump’s latest tax and spending bill, which passed Congress narrowly and is projected to increase the national deficit by over $3 trillion in the next decade. Crucially, the bill offers little support for green energy initiatives, a sticking point for Musk as CEO of electric carmaker Tesla.
Trump, in retaliation, mocked Musk on Truth Social, suggesting Musk’s business empire is propped up by government subsidies and threatening to scrutinize the support his companies receive. “Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” Trump wrote.
While Musk cannot run for president due to his South African birth, the announcement of the America Party has sparked speculation about its leadership and political direction. As of Saturday, there were no records of formal registration with the Federal Election Commission.
Third-party efforts in the U.S. have historically struggled to gain traction. However, Musk’s influence, financial clout, and platform may give the America Party a unique boost in reshaping American political discourse. Whether it can translate into electoral success remains to be seen.
