US President Donald Trump has expressed his skepticism about Elon Musk‘s plan to launch a new political party, calling it “ridiculous”. Trump made the comments while speaking to reporters on Sunday before boarding Air Force One. “I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party,” he said. “It’s always been a two-party system and I think starting a third party just adds to the confusion.”
Musk had posted on X over the weekend that he had set up the America Party to challenge the Republican and Democratic “Uniparty”. The Tesla boss has repeatedly criticized government policies that increase the US national debt. Trump and Musk were formerly close allies, with Musk leading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which aimed to cut federal spending.
The public spat between Trump and Musk began when Musk criticized Trump’s spending plans. Trump responded by posting on his Truth Social platform that he was “saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a train wreck over the past five weeks”. Trump also took aim at Musk’s push for an “Electric Vehicle (EV) Mandate”, saying it would have “forced everyone to buy an electric car in a short period of time”.
Trump’s tax and spending plan, which he signed into law on July 4, ended tax breaks for electric vehicles. He argued that he had opposed Musk’s proposal for an EV mandate from the beginning, explaining the reasons for omitting such vehicles in the legislation. “People are now allowed to buy whatever they want – Gasoline Powered, Hybrids (which are doing very well), or New Technologies as they come about – No more EV Mandate,” Trump said.
The legislation includes increased spending for border security, defense, and energy production, offset by controversial cuts to healthcare and food-support programs. Musk’s decision to launch a new political party comes as a surprise to many, given his previous support for Trump. However, Musk has become increasingly critical of Trump’s spending plans, leading to a rift between the two.
Musk said that while the new party may back a presidential candidate at some point, “the focus for the next 12 months is on the House and the Senate”. It remains to be seen how Musk’s new party will impact the US political landscape and whether it will pose a challenge to the traditional two-party system.
The development comes as Trump prepares to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is visiting Washington. The meeting is expected to focus on the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have ended without a breakthrough.