Washington: Tech mogul Elon Musk announced on Saturday the formation of a new political party, the “America Party,” aiming to disrupt what he describes as a broken and monopolized U.S. political system.
Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and former ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, said the current political structure operates like a “one-party system,” with both Republicans and Democrats complicit in policies that are pushing the country toward financial collapse.
“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” Musk declared on his social media platform X. “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”
Break from Trump
Musk’s announcement comes amid an intensifying feud with President Trump. Once one of Trump’s biggest backers — both politically and financially — Musk’s relationship with the former president soured over a controversial federal spending package known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The legislation, spearheaded by Trump, authorizes massive domestic expenditures, which Musk has fiercely criticized as reckless and inflationary.
As head of the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk had been central to Trump’s early push for slashing federal spending and eliminating government waste. But the alliance fractured when Trump shifted his focus toward expansive public investments, a move Musk labeled as “debt slavery.”
After the bill passed Congress and was signed into law, Musk didn’t hold back. “They will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” he vowed, referring to the Republican lawmakers who supported the measure despite campaigning on fiscal restraint.
‘America Party’ as Political Alternative
Musk revealed the formation of the America Party following a poll he posted on July 4 — U.S. Independence Day — asking users if they wanted “independence from the two-party (some would say uniparty) system.” The survey garnered over 1.2 million responses, with a two-thirds majority in favor of a new political alternative.
“By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!” Musk wrote, following up with a meme portraying a two-headed snake labeled “End the Uniparty.”
The America Party, according to Musk, will focus on defeating lawmakers — regardless of party affiliation — who vote for policies that increase federal debt or expand government size without oversight.
Although the immediate influence of the party on upcoming elections remains uncertain, Musk has already laid out a battle strategy. He proposed targeting a small number of strategically significant House and Senate seats in 2026 to become “the deciding vote” on major legislation.
“One way to execute on this would be to laser-focus on just 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts,” Musk posted, signaling a grassroots, precision-targeted campaign approach.
Trump’s Response: Deportation Threat
The rivalry took a dramatic turn when Trump, reacting to Musk’s criticism, hinted at possible punitive actions. During a press interaction, he was asked whether he would consider deporting Musk, who was born in South Africa and became a U.S. citizen in 2002.
“We’ll have to take a look,” Trump said, also threatening to strip federal contracts from Musk’s companies.
The standoff has electrified the political landscape, with observers split on the potential impact of Musk’s movement. Some warn that a third-party initiative could splinter the conservative vote, echoing the 1992 presidential run of Ross Perot, which is widely believed to have helped Democrat Bill Clinton defeat incumbent President George H.W. Bush.
“You are pulling a Ross Perot, and I don’t like it,” one user wrote in response to Musk’s posts on X.
Long-Term Implications
With all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and a third of the Senate up for election every two years, the America Party’s future will likely hinge on whether Musk can translate social media influence into tangible electoral results.
Political analysts remain skeptical about the viability of a third-party movement in the U.S., where systemic barriers such as ballot access laws, fundraising requirements, and voter habits strongly favor the two dominant parties.
However, Musk’s celebrity status, vast resources, and loyal online following could give the America Party a unique edge — if not in immediate legislative power, then at least in shaping national discourse.
Whether the party will endure beyond its founding controversy or fade into history as another failed third-party attempt remains to be seen. For now, Musk has thrown a high-profile wrench into the 2026 and 2028 electoral equations, and the political world is paying close attention.
