Tech billionaire and former ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, announced on Saturday the formation of a new political party in the United States, aiming to disrupt what he described as the country’s entrenched “one-party system.”
Musk, who was once Trump’s largest political donor during the 2024 election cycle, has had a sharp fallout with the president over a massive domestic spending plan that Musk strongly opposed. As former head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk had spearheaded Trump’s effort to reduce federal spending and jobs but later accused Trump and Republican lawmakers of betraying their promises.
Taking to his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk declared the formation of the America Party, stating: “When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”
Musk had earlier posted a poll on U.S. Independence Day, asking his 1.2 million respondents whether they wanted "independence from the two-party (some would say uniparty) system." The poll showed a two-to-one majority in favor of a new party, which Musk used as a mandate to launch his political movement.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO also shared a meme featuring a two-headed snake labeled “End the Uniparty,” signaling his opposition to the current bipartisan structure.
Targeting Vulnerable Lawmakers
Musk’s party is expected to focus on defeating lawmakers who supported Trump’s controversial One Big Beautiful Bill, which Musk labeled as “debt slavery” and which is projected to add $3.4 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade.
Vowing a focused strategy, Musk outlined a plan to target key swing seats in Congress, saying: “One way to execute on this would be to laser-focus on just 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts.”
Political analysts are divided on the potential impact of Musk’s new party, with some warning that third-party movements often split votes, as seen in Ross Perot’s 1992 independent presidential bid that contributed to George H.W. Bush’s defeat.
“You are pulling a Ross Perot, and I don’t like it,” one user commented on Musk’s post.
Trump’s Response: Threats and Escalation
The ongoing feud between Trump and Musk has turned increasingly personal. After Musk’s public condemnation of the spending bill, Trump retaliated by threatening to deport Musk — despite his U.S. citizenship since 2002 — and to cut off federal funding to Musk’s businesses, including SpaceX and Tesla.
“We’ll have to take a look,” Trump told reporters when asked whether deportation was on the table.
Observers note that Musk’s political influence could significantly reshape the Republican landscape, especially if his party successfully challenges incumbent lawmakers in the 2026 midterm elections and potentially the 2028 presidential race.
Whether the America Party can sustain long-term momentum or alter America’s two-party structure remains to be seen, but Musk’s bold entry into the political arena has already sent shockwaves through Washington.
