Elon Musk Announces New Political Party ‘America Party’

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has announced the formation of a new political party in the United States, called the America Party, in a bold move aimed at challenging the long-standing two-party system dominated by the Republican and Democratic parties. Musk made the announcement on Saturday, via his social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), declaring the party’s mission to "give back" freedom to the American people and to combat what he described as the "one-party system"—a term critics use to imply that Democrats and Republicans are more alike than different, especially in terms of wasteful government spending.

The announcement comes amid a worsening feud between Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump, a former political ally. Their fallout centers around Trump’s signing of the controversial budget legislation known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” Musk, who previously served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency—an agency created in Trump’s second term to cut federal spending—has strongly criticized the bill, warning that it would bankrupt the country by adding $3.4 trillion to the national deficit over a decade. The national deficit refers to the shortfall when the government spends more money than it collects in a fiscal year.

Musk accused both major parties of unchecked government spending and corruption, claiming that the U.S. no longer functions as a true democracy, but rather as a unified political machine driven by waste and self-interest. Despite being born in South Africa—and therefore ineligible to run for U.S. president due to the natural-born citizen requirement in the Constitution—Musk has not yet disclosed who will lead the America Party or whether it has been formally registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the U.S. agency that oversees political campaign finance and party registration.

The move follows Musk’s threat to financially unseat lawmakers who supported the budget legislation. "They will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth," Musk vowed, referring to party primary elections, which determine a party’s candidate for the general election. He has also proposed a focused electoral strategy, suggesting that the America Party target 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts, aiming to become "the deciding vote" on key legislation.

Notably, on Friday—U.S. Independence Day, Musk posted a poll on X asking users: “Do you want independence from the two-party (some would say uniparty) system?” Over 1.2 million people responded, with Musk stating that “by a factor of 2 to 1,” the majority wanted a new political party. He used this result as a mandate, writing: “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”

Musk also criticized what he perceives as the erosion of democratic representation in the U.S., stating: “When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy.” (Graft refers to the use of political power for personal gain or corrupt practices.)

The fallout with Trump has escalated quickly. Once a key campaign financier for Trump during the 2024 presidential election, Musk was deeply involved in Trump’s government reform efforts. But after the passing of the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” their relationship deteriorated. In retaliation, Trump has threatened to revoke federal subsidies that benefit Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, and has even floated the idea of deporting Musk, despite his having been a U.S. citizen since 2002. When asked by reporters if he would consider deporting Musk, Trump replied, “We’ll have to take a look.”

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The future of the America Party remains uncertain. It is unclear how much impact the party will have on the 2026 mid-term elections, in which all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and approximately one-third of the 100-member Senate will be contested. The mid-term elections often serve as a referendum on the sitting president and can significantly shift the balance of power in Congress.

Despite Musk’s deep financial resources and massive public influence, breaking the Republican-Democratic duopoly—which has dominated U.S. politics for over 160 years—is considered an enormous challenge. Trump’s approval ratings, which have generally held firm above 40% in his second term, reflect the enduring loyalty of his political base, even amid controversy.

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There has been no official response yet from Trump or the White House regarding Musk’s new party announcement. However, the political landscape has undeniably shifted with Musk’s entry into the partisan arena. Whether the America Party becomes a disruptive force or fades into political obscurity remains to be seen.

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