Elon Musk Launches America Party After Trump Tax Bill Feud

Elon Musk announced the launch of his new political party, the America Party, on Saturday, revealing the news to his 180 million followers on X. The announcement came less than 24 hours after he polled his followers on whether the US needed a new political party, with a majority responding in favor. Musk's decision to form the America Party follows a contentious period with President Donald Trump, who recently signed a tax-and-spend bill into law despite Musk's warnings. Musk, who had previously supported Trump and served in his administration, has now decided to fund takedowns of lawmakers who voted for the bill, using his new party as a platform.

Musk's move has raised concerns among Republicans, who fear that the public feud between Musk and Trump could jeopardize their chances of retaining congressional seats in the 2026 midterms. Musk has criticized the bill, stating that it would increase the deficit to $2.5 trillion, which he believes would bankrupt the country. The formation of the America Party is seen as a direct challenge to the existing two-party system, with Musk aiming to gain control over key legislative votes by focusing on a limited number of Senate seats and House districts.

However, the process of establishing a new political party in the US is complex and time-consuming. Each state has its own ballot access rules, and most are designed to block third-party entries. For instance, in California, a party must either register 0.33% of all voters or collect 1.1 million signatures to be recognized. Additionally, parties must maintain these numbers or win 2% of the statewide vote to stay qualified. The legal system favors the two-party system, making it difficult for new parties to gain recognition nationwide. Even for someone as wealthy as Musk, getting recognized in all 50 states before 2026 is unlikely. Legal teams will be involved, and lawsuits from Democrats and Republicans are expected, further complicating the process.

Despite these challenges, Musk believes that focusing on a few key Senate seats and House districts could be enough to control major legislation. If America Party candidates hold the deciding votes, Musk could disrupt the current political landscape without needing to take over entirely. However, the track record of third parties in the US is not encouraging. The Green Party and the Libertarian Party, for example, have been around for decades but still struggle to gain significant national support and face ongoing battles for ballot access. Musk's America Party will likely face similar challenges as it seeks to establish itself in the US political system.