Overthrow to the political scene or an unscrupulous firework? THE Elon Musk, sometimes ally and close friend of Donald Trumpannounced on Saturday, July 5, 2025, the creation of his own political party, called “Party of America”. His initiative was described as “ridiculous” by the current US president.
OR Announcement of the new Musk Party It comes a few weeks after his departure from the Ministry of Efficiency of the Government (Doge), where he was appointed in January with the aim of limiting public spending. Since then, Elon Musk has been in an open conflict with Donald Trump, mainly for budget legislation.
Musk wrote on the X platform that his goal is the next year’s intermediate elections. Likened his strategy to his Triumph by Greek General Epaminondas against the Spartans in the battle of Leuktro: “Highly concentrated power at an exact point on the battlefield.”
Without revealing details of his political plan, Tesla’s chief said he wishes to offer an alternative to the bipolar system of Republican and Democrats.
By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!
When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy.
Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom. https://t.co/9K8AD04QQN
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 5, 2025
THE Olivier Laskareditor of the digital section of Sciences et Avenir and author of the book “Research on Elon Musk, the man who challenges science” It analyzes this new spectacular movement of the richest man in the world.
‘First of all, This is a revenge on Donald Trump. Musk believes that his role was not recognized as much as he should, despite his support for the US president. The creation of the Party is a form of self-radicalization after its participation in the government, he has sought by the power offered by the crowd, “he initially says in his French version. Huffingtonpost.
From CEO… political leader?
Despite his statements that he wants to be devoted to his business again after leaving Doge, the decision to set up a party is surprising – especially if one considers the damage already caused to his companies.
During his six -month government’s term, Tesla suffered a strong blow, with a stock market drop and targeting from disapproval campaigns. Musk, sometimes a symbol of innovation, evolves into a risk factor for Tesla herself.
The same may apply to SpaceX. Although Musk believes that there is no opponent who can threaten him in the space sector, Jeff Bezos’ presence with Blue Origin is increasingly noticeable. However, he has not completely renounced the role of a businessman: for himself, politics is a tool that can promote the interests of his companies.
Without a clear political vision
Elon Musk has not presented specific political proposals. What can we expect?
“It’s hard to say. Musk is not an ideologist, unlike other personalities in technology, such as Peter Till, the founder of Paypal, who clearly expresses the far -right. Musk had previously had relationships with the Democrats, but moved to the Republicans under Biden presidency.
Its only stable position seems to be public debt. He has also been openly opposed to the “woke ideology”, which he considers a threat to the US. However, it is not clear how these views are different from those of Donald Trump. “
But there is still an issue. Musk is born in South Africa and therefore has no right to claim the US presidency. Then why set up a party?
At the moment, he says the aim is to support candidates locally, mainly against elected who supported the Trump fiscal policy, Olivier Laskar notes. However, he says, in the long run, he can aspire to become a “game regulator” in the next election. We must not forget that, before he was in line with Trump, he had expressed his support for Florida Governor Ron Dessandis.
Can actually impose a ‘Third Party’ In a political system structured around two factions, the Republicans and the Democrats?
As the Musk biographer explains, the idea of a third party returns to American political history, but has never been fruitful. Is not part of US political culture – most citizens consider voting in such moves is Lost vote.
In addition, he continues, “Musk’s personality does not facilitate the venture. Building a political movement requires allies and the sympathy of the public – two elements that are missing. As an entrepreneur is technocratically capable but ruthless in managing people.
In his public appearances he often seems embarrassed, which poses serious doubts about his ability to lead politically and persuade the electorate. ”
The 6 challenges facing the new Musk party
As noted analysis Washington Post Musk’s new party faces six challenges.
1. Institutional obstacles and rules for ballots
US electoral system, based on the idea that ‘The winner takes it all’, It does not favor third parties. According to the Hans Noel, Professor of Political History and Political Methodology at Georgetown University, USA “Institutions do not allow third parties to be very successful.”
“You have to win to get something. It’s not like in other democracies, where you start a small party, you take 20 or 30 percent of the votes, you get a share of the seats in parliament and start building from there. “
In addition to the structure of the political system, which is restrictive, if Musk wants to support federal candidates in various states or in the future to promote a third candidate for the presidency, the new organization should comply with the requirements for the inclusion.
The federal electoral committee has rules for the registration of a new political party. But also every state, it has its own rules, which often include residence requirements and gathering signatures from voters.
These requirements have created problems for many third party candidates. During the 2024 presidential election, no remarkable third party candidate appeared on the ballots of all 50 states.
2. Historical obstacles and recent challenges
Political parties outside the American bipartisan system have been in place for decades, however Their national appeal is limited. The last time he won the presidential candidate who was not Republican or Democratic was in 1968, when five states of the South voted for the American Independent Party candidate George Wallas.
Billionaire Ross Pero received about 19% of the votes in the 1992 elections, but no electors. “Pero went well … but he didn’t come first in any state, and in the way the electorate works, that means you don’t get anything,” Noel explains.
3.
Musk wrote on Saturday on the X platform that his goal is next year’s intermediate elections.
Musk has previously referred to the ability to influence Congress’s composition, focusing on a few, important seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives, but has not named specific goals.
Although Professor Macorkl believes that Musk candidates will not win, he estimates that they can act as “confusion factors”, undermining Republican candidates and receiving several votes to make a difference in ambiguous states. Musk candidates could affect the intermediate elections when “there will probably be a reduction in Maga voters,” he says.
4. Divide to the target audience
On Saturday, Musk appeared to agree with an X user who presented a party platform calling for a reduction in national debt, modernization of the army with artificial intelligence and robotics, support for freedom of speech and restriction of state control, technology and technology support and technology.
However, 80% of the “center” in which Musk is addressing, according to Noel Georgetown, may not have the necessary consistency to be a political party.
“People have ties with existing parties, they are disappointed with them, they don’t like them. They have worries, but there is no constituted electoral base that can claim, “Noel said.
5. Concentration of political allies
After his departure from the federal government and his rupture with Trump and the Republicans of Congress, the Musk’s influence on the party seems to be fading. Trump’s ally, James Fisbak, has already stated that he is setting up a strong political action committee to intercept Musk’s political aspirations.
Although Musk’s wealth has supported his political moves, powerful political parties can raise money through interested voters, Noel notes.
“Through this process you get in touch with many people who not only give you money, but they can do other things for you – or at least vote for you,” he adds. A new party, he added, will need unusually dedicated voters who will have the courage to campaign even after initial defeats. ‘This is just not bought’says Noel.
There is at least one Republican in Congress with liberal thought and dislike for expenses, which Musk continues to support: MP Thomas Massi (Kentucky). Two non -Republican teams, the Libertarian National Committee and the Central Political Group No Labels, say they want to work with Musk.
6. Patience
Will a peculiar billionaire, known for his tendency to defy the rules and to set ambitious goals for his teams, as well as the design of spacecraft and electric cars, endure endless procedures to put candidates on the ballots and only to losing the ballots?
Noel and Macorkle say they may have to deal with with repeatedly defeats Before seeing political success.