In a dramatic political twist, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has announced the formation of a new political outfit called the “America Party”, escalating his growing feud with former ally and U.S. President Donald Trump.
The announcement came just a day after Musk hinted at the idea through a poll on X (formerly Twitter), where users overwhelmingly supported the formation of a third party to challenge the entrenched two-party system.
“By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it! Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom,” Musk posted.
The move comes amid rising tensions between Musk and Trump following the President’s signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill, a sweeping tax cut and spending measure that Musk fiercely opposed. Once a key financial backer of Trump’s re-election and the head of the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has since turned into a vocal critic of Trump’s fiscal policies.
The rift deepened after Trump threatened to revoke federal subsidies for Musk’s companies and even hinted at the possibility of deporting him, questioning his citizenship despite Musk being a U.S. citizen since 2002. In response, Musk vowed to use his vast personal fortune to unseat lawmakers who supported the bill.
Musk’s new party is being seen as a challenge not only to Trump and the Republicans but also to the broader bipartisan system in American politics. With over 1.2 million responses to his online poll, Musk’s move has sparked significant attention, though political analysts remain cautious about its long-term impact.
The feud and the party launch have stirred concerns among Republican strategists, who fear a Musk-backed movement could fracture the conservative vote and jeopardize GOP control in the 2026 midterm elections.
Musk has yet to confirm if he intends to run for public office himself, but speculation is mounting about a possible 2028 presidential bid under the new America Party banner.
