Trump Slams Musk’s Plan for Third Political Party

Ex-allies clash over new “America Party” and electric vehicle policies.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Elon Musk after the billionaire floated plans to establish a new political party, signaling a growing rift between the once-close allies.

Trump’s Criticism

Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Trump dismissed the idea of a third party. “I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party,” he stated, adding that “It’s always been a two-party system and I think starting a third party just adds to the confusion.”

Trump took to his Truth Social platform to express his disappointment in Musk, stating, “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a train wreck over the past five weeks.”

Musk’s “America Party”

After weeks of hinting at the move, Musk announced on X the creation of the “America Party,” intended to challenge what he calls the Republican and Democratic “Uniparty.” While a presidential candidate may be backed in the future, the immediate focus, according to Musk, will be on the House and Senate within the next year.

Clash Over Electric Vehicle Mandates

The former president also attacked Musk’s advocacy for an “Electric Vehicle (EV) Mandate,” claiming it would have “forced everyone to buy an electric car in a short period of time.”

The current administration ended tax incentives for electric vehicles as part of a tax and spending package signed into law on July 4th. He asserted that he had opposed Musk’s EV mandate proposal from the start, which is why he omitted them from the legislation.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2023, about 84% of U.S. households owned at least one vehicle; of these, only 4% were electric vehicles (EIA, 2023).

“People are now allowed to buy whatever they want – Gasoline Powered, Hybrids (which are doing very well), or New Technologies as they come about – No more EV Mandate.” he said.

Background of the Alliance

Trump and Musk were once close allies, with the Tesla CEO previously heading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), an agency focused on cutting federal spending. Musk has consistently voiced concerns about government policies that contribute to the growing U.S. national debt.

The legislation in question includes increased spending on border security, defense, and energy production, balanced by contentious cuts to healthcare and food-support programs.

Musk initially suggested the idea of a new political party online amid his public disagreements with Trump regarding his spending proposals.