Elon Musk Floats the Idea of the ‘America Party’

On Independence Day, Elon Musk used his platform to launch an unexpected political proposal that could disrupt American politics. The billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX asked his followers whether it was time to build a new political party to rival both Democrats and Republicans.

“Independence Day is the perfect time to ask if you want independence from the two-party (some would say uniparty) system,” Musk posted on X, the social media platform he owns. “Should we create the America Party?”

His poll quickly gained traction. By Friday afternoon, more than 459,000 people had voted, with 62.1 percent in favor of creating the new party and 37.9 percent opposed. The response highlighted the public’s frustration with the country’s traditional political divisions.

Musk said the new party could focus on representing what he called “the 80 percent in the middle.” In June, he asked followers whether they believed the time had come for a new political movement that would speak for moderates and independents. “Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?” he wrote at the time.

His critics point out that this figure may be exaggerated. A Gallup poll earlier this year found that while 43 percent of Americans identify as independent, the number who consider themselves true moderates has declined to 34 percent.

A Bitter Break with Trump

Musk’s call for a third party came at a dramatic moment. On the same day he posted the poll, President Donald Trump was celebrating the passage of his signature budget legislation, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The bill raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion and is projected to add $3.3 trillion to the deficit.

Musk had been an early supporter of Trump. In 2024, he spent nearly $300 million to help Trump win re-election and took a seat as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The department’s mission was to cut waste, reduce spending and improve the functioning of the federal government.

But after the bill passed, Musk publicly turned against Trump. He argued that the spending plan would create what he called “debt slavery” for future generations. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk wrote on June 3. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.”

During an interview with CBS, Musk explained, “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful. This one is neither.”

The tension grew even more personal when Musk hinted that he knew damaging information about Trump’s past connections to Jeffrey Epstein, though he did not provide evidence. Those posts were eventually deleted, but the rift was clear.

Trump responded on social media by accusing Musk of acting out of bitterness. “Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” Musk wrote on X. “Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.” Trump shot back that Musk had gone “CRAZY” and was upset because the bill would reduce tax credits for electric vehicles, which benefit Tesla.

A Strategy for Gaining Influence

Musk insists that the America Party would not try to compete in every race right away. Instead, he believes it could have a huge impact by targeting only a few closely contested seats.

“One way to execute on this would be to laser-focus on just 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts,” Musk explained. “Given the razor-thin legislative margins, that would be enough to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws, ensuring that they serve the true will of the people.”

He believes that with Congress nearly split down the middle, even a small number of America Party lawmakers could hold the balance of power and force both sides to compromise.

Musk also endorsed a statement from Senator Rand Paul, one of the only Republicans to oppose Trump’s bill. Paul said the legislation showed “short-term politicking over long-term sustainability.” Musk shared Paul’s message and added a “100” emoji to show his agreement.

Supporters Say It’s Time for Change

Musk’s proposal has attracted interest from political figures who feel alienated by Trump’s agenda. Some centrist Democrats and anti-Trump Republicans have been quietly discussing their own plans to create a new party.

One anonymous source told The Swamp, a political newsletter, “The Republican Party, as many of us know it, no longer exists. We do not recognize ourselves anymore in Trump’s administration. There is a strong movement out there in the party to reclaim the values we were raised on and reclaim the middle ground.”

Supporters of Musk’s effort argue that he has the resources to succeed where other third parties have failed. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimates Musk’s fortune at $361 billion, which means he could self-fund campaigns without relying on traditional donors.

Critics Warn About Splitting the Vote

Still, many political analysts caution that third parties rarely succeed in America’s system. They often end up dividing the vote and helping the major party the founders of the third party like the least.

Ron Filipkowski, the editor-in-chief of MeidasTouch, criticized Musk for floating the idea again instead of taking action. “You vowed forcefully that as soon as the bill passed you were going to form the 3rd party because you correctly said it puts us in debt slavery,” Filipkowski said. “Now you are conducting a second poll. The last one showed people overwhelmingly in favor, so why another poll? Just do it.”

Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy, also attacked Musk’s criticism. “To oppose this bill is to support the invasion,” Miller said in an interview. “To oppose this bill is to support the continued giveaways and freebies to cheaters and scam artists.”

Miller claimed that anyone against Trump’s legislation was also against benefits for working Americans. “To oppose this bill is to support a deprivation of all of the tax benefits that President Trump is fighting to deliver to the middle class, like no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, no tax on overtime.”

What Happens Next

For now, Musk has not announced any specific candidates or districts where he plans to get involved. He seems to be gauging the level of public enthusiasm before making a commitment.

Yet by reviving the idea of the America Party on Independence Day and laying out a strategy to flip a few seats in Congress, Musk has signaled he wants to be more than just a businessman. Whether he actually moves forward remains to be seen, but the possibility alone is already adding tension to the next election season.

“This is just the beginning,” Musk warned in one of his posts. “Real independence starts when you stop pretending the two parties are different.”

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