President Donald Trump has vehemently dismissed Elon Musk's recent venture into the political arena by establishing the America Party. Speaking to reporters in New Jersey after a visit to his Bedminster golf club, Trump described Musk's efforts to create a third political party as "ridiculous" and indicative of the tech mogul having gone "completely off the rails." The comments come in the wake of Musk's official filing with the Federal Election Commission on Sunday, marking a significant escalation in the feud between two of America's most influential figures.
Trump, appearing visibly frustrated by questions regarding his former ally's political ambitions, defended the two-party system that has dominated American politics. "We have a tremendous success with the Republican Party," he stated. "The Democrats have lost their way, but it's always been a two-party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to confusion." Trump further elaborated on his views of third-party movements, noting their historical lack of success in the United States.
The president took to Truth Social to express his disappointment in Musk, writing, "I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely 'off the rails,' essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks. He even wants to start a Third Political Party, despite the fact that they have never succeeded in the United States." Musk, in turn, took an indirect jab at Trump on social media, criticizing the government's spending priorities and Trump's fiscal policies, specifically referencing the Department of Government Efficiency's role in federal spending.
The origins of this dispute can be traced back to Musk's opposition to Trump's government funding bill, which was signed into law on the Fourth of July. Musk had taken issue with the lack of federal subsidies for electric vehicles and the bill's contribution to the national debt. Trump defended his stance on electric vehicle subsidies, claiming that Musk was fully aware of his position from the outset.
While their relationship started cordially, with Musk even being invited to stay in the White House's Lincoln Bedroom, tensions rose during debates over the government funding bill. Musk's current opposition is particularly noteworthy given his substantial financial support for Trump and Republican candidates during the 2024 election cycle, totaling approximately $300 million.
The implications of Musk's political ambitions are significant, given the current narrow control Republicans have over Congress. With 53 Senate seats out of 100 and 220 House seats compared to 212 for Democrats, any success from a third-party candidate could potentially shift the balance of power.
Musk spent the Sunday following his party's announcement engaging with users on his X platform, seeking feedback and indicating his intentions to participate actively in future elections. He also directed criticism at the Republican leadership for increasing the national debt by a record five trillion dollars, despite their control of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
In a strategic metaphor, Musk concluded, "The way we're going to crack the uniparty system is by using a variant of how Epaminondas shattered the myth of Spartan invincibility at Leuctra: Extremely concentrated force at a precise location on the battlefield."
