The once cooperative relationship between President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk has soured beyond repair, as tensions peak following Musk’s provocative move to establish a political party that could rival the Republican establishment.
What began as a high-profile partnership—Musk previously served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency—has unraveled swiftly, much as many political observers predicted.
Though Musk recently claimed he was stepping away from politics to refocus on his companies, his exit wasn’t without controversy. He ignited backlash by implying that Trump was mentioned in a sealed portion of the Jeffrey Epstein files. While Musk later walked back the statement and issued a public apology, the damage to their relationship was already done.
Their rift deepened following the passage of Trump’s signature legislative package, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Musk sharply criticized the bill, claiming it would lead to widespread job losses. Taking things further, he pledged to bankroll campaigns against lawmakers who backed the measure and unveiled his plans to create a new political movement: the America Party.
Musk says the new party aims to disrupt the current two-party system, distancing itself from both Democrats and Republicans—even though he has supported figures from both sides in the past.
President Trump has not taken the news lightly. Speaking to reporters while returning from his New Jersey golf club, he dismissed Musk’s ambitions: “Third parties have never worked, so he can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”
He doubled down on Truth Social, writing: “It’s sad to watch Elon Musk spiral completely out of control—he’s been a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks. He now wants to start a third political party, even though they’ve never succeeded in America.”
Trump warned that third parties would only bring “complete and total disruption and chaos,” escalating the feud.
He also accused Musk of turning against him due to the administration’s plan to phase out federal subsidies for electric vehicles—a move that directly impacts Musk’s Tesla empire. Trump further alleged that Musk tried to influence the government by recommending his associate, Jared Isaacman, for the top role at NASA. The nomination was quietly shelved after Musk stepped down from his government post.
“It was inappropriate to have someone so closely tied to Elon run NASA, considering how much NASA business goes to his companies,” Trump remarked.
Musk hasn’t remained silent. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he declared: “We live under a one-party system masquerading as democracy. The America Party is here to restore your freedom.”
Whether Musk’s America Party will materialize remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: Trump, at least publicly, isn’t treating it as a serious threat—yet.
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