July 7, 2025 – Washington D.C.
Elon Musk has announced the formation of a new political party — the “America Party” — in what appears to be the latest chapter in his very public fallout with former ally and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Posting on his platform X late Saturday, the billionaire entrepreneur said the new party would challenge what he called the “one-party system” of wasteful spending and entrenched corruption in Washington. “By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party — and you shall have it!” Musk wrote, referencing a poll he conducted last month asking users if the U.S. needs an alternative to Republicans and Democrats.
“Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom,” he declared.
Despite the bold proclamation, there’s no official record — as of Saturday — that the party has been registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), leaving many to question whether this is a symbolic move, a digital-era political experiment, or the start of a serious third-party movement.
Musk, who was born in South Africa and is constitutionally barred from running for U.S. president, has not named any figurehead or potential candidates for the new party.
The announcement comes just weeks after Musk and Trump’s relationship imploded in spectacular fashion. Once a high-profile Trump supporter — even appearing at rallies and reportedly spending $250 million to help him regain office — Musk stepped away from the administration in May, voicing sharp criticism of Trump’s economic policies.
Their rift deepened after Musk resigned from his position leading the federal Department of Government Efficiency (ironically dubbed “Doge”) and took aim at Trump’s signature tax-and-spending legislation. The bill, which passed Congress by a razor-thin margin this week, includes sweeping tax cuts and big-ticket spending initiatives but lacks any meaningful support for green energy — a sore point for Musk, whose Tesla empire relies heavily on clean energy subsidies.
In a blistering post on Truth Social, Trump shot back: “Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history. Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”
The jab wasn’t limited to Tesla. Trump also hinted that he might push for investigations into government contracts held by SpaceX and Starlink — two of Musk’s most lucrative ventures, both of which work closely with U.S. and allied defense forces.
Though third-party bids have rarely succeeded in U.S. national politics, Musk’s enormous public reach and financial muscle make the America Party an unpredictable wildcard in the 2026 midterms and beyond.
Still, political analysts caution that charisma and capital alone aren’t enough. “Launching a viable third party requires more than X posts and viral slogans,” said Dr. Rachel Lindon, a political science professor at Georgetown University. “It takes ground game, candidates, a clear platform — and most importantly, ballot access across all 50 states.”
For now, the America Party exists largely in name — but with Musk involved, many believe it won’t stay that way for long.
