Musk Announces Formation of New “America Party” After Rift with Trump

Elon Musk declared Saturday that he is launching a new political party, following a highly public split with President Donald Trump. The move fulfills earlier warnings Musk issued if the president’s domestic policy bill became law.

“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” Musk wrote on X. “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”

Musk, who was the biggest individual donor to Trump’s 2024 campaign and a key figure in the administration’s cost-cutting initiatives, had publicly condemned Trump’s signature domestic legislation, calling it fiscally reckless and warning it could balloon the national deficit.

Their disagreement over the bill sparked a dramatic breakdown in their relationship last month. Though Musk appeared to walk back some of his harshest remarks and deleted inflammatory posts, tensions reignited this past week as the legislation advanced through Congress. Trump ultimately signed it into law on Friday.

It remains unclear whether Musk has formally taken the legal steps to establish a new political party. As of the latest reports, there is no record with the Federal Election Commission showing official registration.

The billionaire entrepreneur has said he envisions the America Party as fiscally conservative, aiming to curb government spending. However, he has provided little detail about the broader principles or policies the party would support.

While Musk and Trump align on several social issues, Musk has increasingly warned that the GOP’s current economic agenda would drive the country deeper into “debt slavery.”

America’s two-party system has long faced criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, though third-party movements have historically struggled. One of the most notable efforts came from Ross Perot, who ran as an independent in 1992 and won nearly 20% of the vote, yet failed to carry a single state.

In posts this week, Musk said his new party plans to play a role in the upcoming 2026 midterms, beginning by endorsing select candidates in a small number of congressional races.

Trump, for his part, has fired back. Earlier this week, he suggested the government may reevaluate its extensive contracts with Musk’s companies. He also took aim at the Department of Government Efficiency, a Musk-led initiative, saying it had become a “monster” that might now “go back and eat Elon.”