Elon Musk Launches America Party, Trump Warns of Disaster

Elon Musk has launched a new political party, the America Party, aiming to challenge both the Democratic and Republican parties. This move has sparked a strong backlash from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has criticized Musk's initiative as a potential disaster for the Republican Party.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social, described Musk's political aspirations as a "train wreck" and warned that third-party efforts in the U.S. historically face significant challenges due to the entrenched two-party system. He cited the example of Ross Perot, who, despite gaining nearly 19% of the popular vote in 1992, failed to win any electoral college votes. Trump's skepticism is rooted in the belief that the current political landscape is not conducive to the success of third parties.

Musk's announcement of the America Party came in response to the passage of a controversial tax-and-spending bill by Congress. Musk had previously threatened to launch a new party if the bill went through, and he followed through on that threat. Filings related to the America Party have begun appearing with the Federal Election Commission, although Musk has clarified that at least one of these filings is fake, raising doubts about the authenticity of others.

The conflict between Trump and Musk centers around the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which Musk has described as a "disgusting abomination." The bill, estimated to add $3.3 trillion to the national debt, undermines the mission of the Department of Government Efficiency, where Musk briefly served. Musk had vowed to oust any GOP lawmaker who supported the bill, a threat he now seems prepared to act on.

Trump loyalists are increasingly concerned that Musk's America Party could split the Republican vote, potentially costing the party key Congressional seats in the 2026 midterm elections. Influencer Laura Loomer suggested that Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie might consider defecting to the new party, which could further divide conservative voters and hand electoral wins to Democrats in closely contested districts.

Musk's strategy appears to be focused on flipping key Senate and House seats rather than launching a presidential campaign. He stated that his party will concentrate on 2–3 Senate seats and 8–10 House districts. In the current polarized political environment, even a few wins could give Musk's party significant leverage to block legislation and reshape Congressional dynamics.