Elon Musk is no stranger to shaking things up, but this time he’s aiming for Capitol Hill. Over the weekend, the billionaire tech mogul announced he’s following through on threats to form his own political party—dubbed the “America Party”—after a dramatic fallout with President Trump over the administration’s sweeping tax cuts.
Musk, who poured at least $250 million into supporting Trump’s 2024 campaign, now says he’ll spend that—and more—to challenge what he calls “the biggest betrayal of fiscal responsibility in modern history.” The tax package, which slashed rates while ramping up spending, triggered Musk’s fury over its potential to balloon the national debt by $5 trillion.
While third parties rarely gain traction in America’s two-party stronghold, Musk’s war chest and celebrity status could make the 2026 midterms more unpredictable than ever. Still, there’s skepticism. By Sunday, social media buzzed with fake “America Party” filings featuring bogus emails like wentsnowboarding@yahoo.com. No formal paperwork has been confirmed, and Musk’s team remains silent on the logistics.
Meanwhile, Musk spent the morning fielding party name suggestions on X and promising to target every lawmaker who backed Trump’s bill. Last month, he warned he’d bankroll challengers to any incumbents who “abandoned real conservatism.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, never a Musk fan, poured cold water on the plan, telling CNN that while DOGE’s platform had appeal, “Elon’s polling numbers don’t.” He predicted Tesla and SpaceX shareholders wouldn’t be thrilled with this new political side hustle.
One thing’s clear: Musk has reignited the drama in D.C. Will the “America Party” be a flash in the pan or a billionaire-fueled political revolution? As usual with Musk—expect the unexpected.
