On Sunday, President Donald Trump criticized Elon Musk’s recent move to launch a new political party, calling the idea “ridiculous” and expressing his belief that third parties have never worked in the U.S. political system.
Musk, the world’s richest person, has been making waves with his intention to challenge the U.S. “one-party system” through the creation of the America Party.
“I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party,” Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One. “It’s always been a two-party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to confusion. Third parties have never worked. So he can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”
The Fallout Between Musk and Trump
Musk, who was once a significant supporter of Trump, has had a bitter falling out with the former president over the past several months. Their disagreements came to a head after Musk led Trump’s effort to slash federal spending and cut jobs in the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk headed.
Their relationship soured further when Musk voiced his concerns over Trump’s massive domestic spending plan, claiming it would dangerously increase the U.S. debt. In response, Musk vowed to use his resources to defeat lawmakers who supported the bill.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump took aim at Musk’s political ambitions, calling him a “TRAIN WRECK” and accusing him of going “off the rails” in recent weeks. Trump also predicted that Musk’s new political venture would lead to “Complete and Total DISRUPTION & CHAOS.”
Musk’s America Party and Push Against the Spending Bill
On Saturday, Musk announced the creation of the America Party, an effort to challenge both Republicans and Democrats. Musk’s primary motivation for the new party appears to be opposition to the massive domestic spending bill championed by Trump and other lawmakers.
Musk has criticized the bill, not only for the fiscal strain it could place on the country but also for increasing the U.S. fiscal deficit and sovereign debt.
Despite the sharp break with Trump, Musk is using the America Party as a platform to fight against the political establishment. His efforts have further distanced him from the former president, as both men seem to be charting divergent paths on key issues.
Criticism From Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, also weighed in on Musk’s political foray. He subtly criticized Musk’s announcement, advising the billionaire to focus on running his companies rather than diving into political matters.
“I believe that the boards of directors at his various companies wanted him to come back and run those companies, which he is better at than anyone,” Bessent said. “So I imagine that those board of directors did not like this announcement yesterday and will be encouraging him to focus on his business activities, not his political activities.”
Musk’s Departure From DOGE and Corporate Focus
Musk’s departure from the Department of Government Efficiency in May allowed him to refocus on his corporate responsibilities, particularly with Tesla, which has seen some challenges due to his brief venture into the political arena.
Musk’s involvement in Trump’s inner circle during the DOGE initiative also appears to have hurt his reputation, particularly with Tesla’s sales and public image.