Elon Musk Launches Party of America
In a sensational development that potentially changes the face of American politics as we know it, Elon Musk has thrown his hat into the political ring by officially forming a new political party—the Party of America. The tech billionaire, entrepreneur, and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX announced his bid on a national livestream and a set of posts on X (formerly Twitter), telling followers he would bring “innovation, integrity, and independence” to a divided and moribund political establishment.
Watch: Elon Musk’s Party of America Announcement
Trump–Musk Feud on Federal Subsidies
Tensions between President Donald Trump and Musk escalated to a boiling point just days before the announcement was made. On July 1, Trump said he would look into billions of dollars in federal subsidies received by Musk’s companies, which include Tesla and SpaceX. Trump fumed in a blistering post on Truth Social:
“Maybe DOGE needs to pay more attention to allegations of government subsidies to Musk. Elon might have gotten more than anyone else in history. Without that, he was going to be South Africa with no rockets, no cars, no satellites.”
The statement came after Musk slammed the new One Big Beautiful Bill as fiscally irresponsible and suggested that the Party of America would back those who opposed Trumpite candidates. With the 2026 midterms increasingly taking form amid legal challenges and political battle lines drawn, they are on track to be among the most fateful in modern American history.
A Radical Political Leap
Musk’s foray into politics also comes as U.S. voters’ discontent with both the Democratic and Republican parties has been mounting. Gripes about inflation, immigration, energy policies, and global positioning have opened up a space for a third party that reads like it’s about the future not the past. “We need a party that stands for humanity’s progress — and that’s that, not political theater,” Musk said in his speech from Austin, Texas.
“This is not me running for office,” he added. “It’s how to remake how America thinks about leadership, truth, and the next generation of civilization.”
What’s the Party of America?
The Party of America (PoA) would, Musk has said, center on four principles:
- Technological Sovereignty – Ramping up investment in U.S.-led innovation, artificial intelligence, and space architecture.
- Economic Freedom – Tax relief for Entrepreneurs and Startups, cut the federal fat.
- Decentralized authority – Supporting blockchain voting and transparency in U.S. government.
- Non-Interventionist – A return to neutrality and a cessation of endless entangling foreign wars.
Unlike most third-party bids, Musk has the money, mouthpieces, and international reach to make America’s Party something other than a sop to the angry and the hopeless.
A Country Ready to Be Disrupted?
More than 42% of Americans, as reported by recent surveys, are willing to consider voting for a third-party candidate that they believe shares their values and has viable leadership. Which is to say, younger voters, independents, and libertarian-leaning conservatives have shown great interest in nontraditional options to a two-party establishment.
America’s Party has a surprising edge in the form of Musk’s enormous popularity with Gen Z and Millennial tech-literate voters. With over 175 million followers on X and nearly daily coverage in the media ecosystem, he has the capacity to bypass traditional gatekeepers and speak to the public directly.
Political Response and Legal Hurdles
Those comments represented an unusually explicit explanation of how they’d like to see Mr. Trump’s impeachment trial handled in the Senate, where it is likely to get underway next week, and they got a swift response from many of the 100 senators whose decision-making could help shape the proceedings. It is not surprising that Musk’s announcement was greeted by a mixed reaction from lawmakers.
Republican critics said Musk was dividing the conservative vote and helping liberals in 2026 and 2028.
Democratic leaders, meanwhile, cautioned against the perils of elite-driven populism.
But legal experts say that Musk will struggle to get there: Ballot access, candidate registration, and the creation of local state-level chapters are each a multimillion-dollar effort and a heavy lift of grassroots organizing.
And yet, analysts say that if anyone can do it, it is Elon Musk.
Public Response
Social media erupted after Musk’s announcement:
“He built PayPal. He built Tesla. He built SpaceX. I wouldn’t bet against him starting a political party,” one X user wrote.
“The Party of America might turn out to be the platform that our generation has been waiting for.”
But critics caution against cults of personality. Political scientists emphasize the importance of democratic infrastructure, representation, and diverse voices instead of only charismatic leadership.
What Comes Next?
Musk said the Party of America would launch officially in September 2025, including a national convention and the unveiling of its leadership board. The party aims to field candidates in the 2026 midterms and may support a presidential bid in 2028.
