Elon Musk launches ‘America Party’ after rift with Trump, pledges freedom from ‘uniparty’ system

Elon Musk announced the formation of a new political party named the "America Party", declaring it as an alternative for voters dissatisfied with both the Democratic and Republican parties. The announcement was made on Musk’s platform X, coinciding with U.S. Independence Day. The move comes after a public fallout between Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump, to whom he was previously a major donor and close political ally.

Musk cited dissatisfaction with the existing two-party system as the reason for forming a third party, calling the current structure a "one-party system." He wrote, "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." He also posted a meme of a two-headed snake with the caption "End the Uniparty," indicating his position against both major political parties.

The fallout between Musk and Trump was triggered after Trump signed the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ into law — a tax measure Musk opposed. Musk had previously called for the bill to be shut down, but Trump went ahead with it, worsening the rift. Musk had earlier stepped down from the DOGE initiative, a government efficiency role he was expected to lead under Trump’s presidency. The two have since engaged in public disagreements.

Ahead of the announcement, Musk conducted a poll on X asking users whether they supported the creation of a third political party. The poll received 1,248,856 responses, with approximately 65 percent voting in favor and 34.6 percent against. Following the poll, Musk wrote, "By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!"

When asked by an X user if he planned to contest elections in the midterms or in 2028, Musk replied, "Next year." Musk had earlier stated in 2024 that he was ineligible to run for president due to his African birth. He said at the time, “I cannot be president because of my African birth. My grandfather was American, but I was born in Africa, so I cannot be president.”