Feud escalates as Elon Musk vows to challenge U.S. political system with third-party movement
Washington, D.C. – July 7, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a fierce attack on tech mogul Elon Musk over the billionaire’s announcement of a new political movement, the “America Party”, calling the idea “ridiculous” and branding Musk a “train wreck.”
The rift deepens what was once a close partnership, as Musk previously led Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and had been a vocal supporter of the Republican president.
“It’s always been a two-party system, and third parties have never worked,” Trump said on Sunday. “He can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”
Musk Vows to Break “One-Party System”
On Saturday, Musk unveiled plans to form a third party to challenge what he described as the United States’ entrenched “one-party system,” citing anger over Trump’s recently signed “Big Beautiful Bill” — a sprawling tax and spending package that Musk argues will balloon the U.S. deficit.
“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” Musk wrote on X (formerly Twitter), which he owns.
The billionaire gave few details on the new party’s structure, registration, or leadership, but vowed to campaign against lawmakers who supported the bill.
Trump Fires Back on Truth Social
Still aboard Air Force One, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to double down on the criticism:
“I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely off the rails, essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK,” Trump posted.
“Third Parties only create TOTAL DISRUPTION & CHAOS. We have enough of that with the Radical Left Democrats.”
Trump also accused Musk of turning against him because the spending bill cut subsidies for electric vehicles, affecting Tesla’s market performance. Musk denies the claim, saying his opposition is based purely on concerns about fiscal sustainability.
White House, Treasury Respond to Musk’s Political Ambitions
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added to the criticism, suggesting Musk should return to his corporate duties.
“I believe the boards of directors at his companies want him to get back to work,” Bessent told CNN.
“He’s better at business than politics.”
Musk stepped down from DOGE in May amid controversy, just weeks before Tesla’s sales reportedly dipped and his popularity among conservatives began to falter.
What’s Next for the ‘America Party’?
Though not officially registered, Musk’s America Party could pose a threat to Trump’s GOP ahead of the 2026 midterms, particularly if it siphons off conservative-leaning voters dissatisfied with Washington’s status quo.
Whether the feud is permanent or political theater remains unclear, but Trump declined to say if he would ask Musk to return the “golden key to the White House” gifted to him during his Oval Office send-off.
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