Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk announced on Saturday that he is forming a third political party, following a high-profile fallout with President Donald Trump.
The move comes after Musk had previously warned he would take action if Trump’s domestic policy bill became law, a bill the president signed on Friday.
“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” Musk posted on his social media platform, X. “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”
Until recently, Musk was one of Trump’s closest allies and the largest individual donor to his 2024 re-election campaign. He also played a key role in shaping the administration’s efforts to reduce government spending.
However, the relationship soured after Musk publicly criticized the president’s flagship legislation, dubbed the “big beautiful bill”, citing projections that it would add trillions to the national deficit.
The disagreement triggered a very public rift between the two men last month. Although Musk later deleted several inflammatory posts and expressed some regret, tensions resurfaced in recent days as the bill advanced through Congress.
Despite the announcement, it remains unclear whether Musk has taken the necessary legal steps to formally establish the party, which would require registration with the Federal Election Commission. As of the latest filings, there is no indication that such paperwork has been submitted.
Musk has said the new “America Party” will prioritise fiscal conservatism and government accountability, but has offered limited information on the party’s broader platform or policy goals.
While he and Trump share similar stances on social issues, Musk has strongly opposed Republican-led spending initiatives, referring to them as “debt slavery.”
The creation of a viable third party in the United States has long been considered an uphill battle.
Despite widespread public dissatisfaction with the two-party system, past efforts, including billionaire Ross Perot’s 1992 independent presidential run, have struggled to gain lasting traction. Perot earned nearly 20% of the popular vote but failed to win a single state.
As previously reported by CNN, experts note that establishing a new political party is both financially burdensome and legally complex, with voters and candidates often reluctant to deviate from traditional affiliations.
In recent posts, Musk said the America Party plans to begin participating in the 2026 midterm elections by endorsing candidates in select House and Senate races.
In response to the announcement, Trump appeared to issue veiled threats toward his former confidant. Speaking earlier this week, the president suggested the government might reconsider its multi-billion-dollar contracts with Musk’s companies.
He also criticized the Department of Government Efficiency, formerly led by Musk, calling it a “monster” that may now “go back and eat Elon.”
