
Elon Musk launches the America Party to challenge both Democrats and Republicans, igniting fierce backlash from Donald Trump.
Fearing a GOP split, Trump allies warn Musk’s party could cost Republicans key Congressional seats in the 2026 midterms.
In a dramatic twist to the already turbulent U.S. political landscape, Elon Musk has unveiled plans to form a third political force—“The America Party.” But not everyone’s impressed. U.S. President Donald Trump wasted no time slamming the move, calling Musk’s latest political venture a “train wreck” and warning it could splinter the Republican vote in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
Trump Slams Musk for Going ‘Off the Rails’
Trump didn’t hold back in his criticism, posting on Truth Social that Musk had gone “off the rails,” calling his political aspirations a “train wreck.” He warned that third-party efforts historically don’t succeed in the U.S. due to the rigid two-party system. “The system seems not designed for them,” Trump noted.
The president’s skepticism is backed by past failures. Ross Perot, another billionaire outsider, gained nearly 19% of the popular vote in 1992 but failed to win a single electoral college vote. His Reform Party did see one win, Jesse Ventura’s 1998 gubernatorial victory in Minnesota, but even that fizzled out as Ventura left the party shortly after. These examples reinforce Trump’s belief that Musk’s political path may be short-lived.
Musk Launches ‘America Party’ to Fight the GOP and Dems
Just hours before Trump’s comments, Musk confirmed via X that he had officially launched the America Party. The announcement came in response to Congress passing Trump’s controversial tax-and-spending bill. Musk had warned he’d retaliate by launching a party if the bill went through, and he made good on the threat.
Filings linked to the American Party began appearing with the Federal Election Commission. Musk later clarified that at least one of these was fake, and doubts remain about the authenticity of others.
The Bill That Fueled the Feud
The clash between Trump and Musk largely centers around the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which Musk called a “disgusting abomination.” The bill, estimated to add $3.3 trillion to the national debt, undermines the mission of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, where Musk served briefly. Before the bill passed, Musk vowed to oust any GOP lawmaker who supported it, a threat he now seems prepared to act on.
Rising Fears of a GOP Split
Trump loyalists are growing increasingly worried that Musk’s America Party could split the Republican vote, threatening their slim majority in Congress. Influencer Laura Loomer even suggested that Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie may consider defecting. Such moves could divide conservative voters and hand electoral wins to Democrats in tightly contested districts.
Musk’s Tactical Play: Flipping Key Seats
Rather than launching a presidential campaign, Musk appears to be playing the long game. He stated that his party will “laser-focus” on 2–3 Senate seats and 8–10 House districts. In today’s polarized political environment, even a handful of wins could give Musk’s party the leverage to block legislation and reshape Congressional dynamics.
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FAQs
The America Party aims to “give back freedom” to voters and challenge the “uniparty” system. Its platform includes reducing national debt, responsible spending, modernizing the military with AI, accelerating AI adoption, less regulation (especially in energy), free speech, pro-natalist policies, and generally centrist policies.
Political experts are highly skeptical of Musk’s plan to disrupt the two-party system. Historically, third parties face immense organizational, institutional, and cultural barriers in the U.S. While Musk has vast resources, building a viable national party is a multi-year, multi-hundred-million-dollar project, and his focus may wane.
Multiple reports indicate that Elon Musk has filed a Statement of Organization with the FEC to launch the “America Party,” listing Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja as treasurer. While early claims of fake filings circulated, recent news confirms an official filing allows the party to begin raising and spending money for federal elections.