WASHINGTON, USA — Former allies turned public adversaries, Donald Trump and Elon Musk escalated their political war of words on Sunday, July 6, 2025, after Musk announced the launch of a new political platform, the America Party.
Trump dismissed the move as “ridiculous”, declaring it a misguided attempt to disrupt the traditional two-party system.
“I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party,” Trump said while addressing reporters in Morristown, New Jersey.
“It’s always been a two-party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to confusion… He can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”
Trump’s rebuke followed Musk’s Saturday, July 5, 2025, announcement that the America Party had officially been formed after a poll on his social media platform X showed overwhelming support for a new centrist political force.
Musk claimed it would represent the “80% in the middle” of American politics and serve as a counterweight to what he called the “Republican/Democrat Uniparty.”
The once cordial relationship between Trump and Musk has soured sharply in recent months, especially since Musk began criticising Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill — dubbed the One, Big Beautiful Bill — which passed Congress last week.
Musk called the legislation “utterly insane and destructive”, claiming it undercuts innovation and penalises the electric vehicle (EV) industry.
The bill, which includes significant tax cuts, expanded defence spending, and tighter immigration enforcement, also repeals the federal EV mandate that required a transition to all-electric vehicle sales over the coming decade.
Trump heralded the repeal as a victory for consumer freedom, saying, “Americans will now be free to choose between gasoline-powered cars, hybrids and other emerging technologies without federal pressure.”
In a fiery post on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared: “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks.”
He added that Musk’s apparent flip-flop was baffling given his past support: “When Elon gave me his total and unquestioned Endorsement, I asked him whether or not he knew I was going to terminate the EV Mandate… He said he had no problems with that — I was very surprised!”
Trump also revealed details of a private disagreement involving Musk’s attempt to install a close friend — described as a “blue blooded Democrat” — to lead NASA.
The former president said it was inappropriate for someone so closely tied to Musk’s corporate space interests to head the agency.
“NASA is such a big part of Elon’s corporate life,” Trump said, raising questions of conflict of interest.
“I thought his friend was very good… but also thought it was inappropriate.”
Musk, who heads Tesla and SpaceX, has grown increasingly vocal about reshaping U.S. politics, citing what he calls “systemic failure and collusion” between the two dominant parties.
He launched the America PAC in 2024, which spent $239 million supporting Trump and GOP candidates.
The pivot to forming an actual party has shocked allies and critics alike.
