US President Donald Trump has publicly criticised billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk over his latest political move to launch a new party, dubbed the America Party, calling it “ridiculous” and a threat to the country’s long-standing two-party system.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday before boarding Air Force One, Trump did not mince words. “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.”
The remarks come in response to Musk’s weekend announcement on his social media platform X, where he confirmed the formation of the America Party. According to the Tesla CEO, the party aims to challenge what he described as the “Republican and Democratic Uniparty,” and will initially focus its energy on the 2026 midterm elections rather than the presidential race.
This marks a sharp turn in the relationship between the two former allies. Musk once headed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era advisory unit meant to reduce federal spending. Both men had shared concerns about ballooning national debt and big government programs. But their alliance appears to have crumbled over policy differences and Musk’s growing political ambitions.
In a scathing post on Truth Social, Trump said he was “saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a train wreck over the past five weeks.”
The President also lashed out at Musk’s controversial push for an Electric Vehicle (EV) mandate, accusing the billionaire of trying to force Americans into a one-size-fits-all future. “It would have forced everyone to buy an electric car in a short period of time,” Trump wrote. He emphasized that his newly signed tax and spending legislation, passed on July 4, eliminates EV tax credits and gives Americans the freedom to choose between “Gasoline Powered, Hybrids… or New Technologies as they come about.”
The legislation also includes increased funding for border security, energy production, and defense, but comes with contentious cuts to healthcare and food-assistance programs, prompting fierce debate in Washington and across the country.
Musk, who has not responded directly to Trump’s latest outburst, indicated that the America Party’s short-term goals would center around gaining influence in Congress. “The focus for the next 12 months is on the House and the Senate,” he said on X.
The rivalry between the two powerful figures is likely to deepen as the 2026 midterms approach. While Trump remains the Republican Party’s central figure and a likely candidate for reelection, Musk’s insurgent party could siphon support from disillusioned conservatives, tech libertarians, and independents dissatisfied with the status quo.
Chioma Kalu
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