Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Photo: AP
Former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Elon Musk on Sunday after the billionaire announced the formation of a new political party. Trump dismissed Musk’s move as “ridiculous”, saying third parties have never worked in the U.S. and only cause disruption. Speaking to reporters on his flight back to the White House from his New Jersey golf club, Trump said, “Third parties have never worked, so he can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”
Trump Accuses Musk of Losing Control
Trump didn’t stop at that comment. He went further and wrote a long post on his platform, Truth Social, saying he was disappointed in Musk’s recent behavior. Trump wrote, “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 starting a third political party will not succeed and only causes “complete and total disruption & chaos.”
Trump Says Musk Is Angry Over EV Subsidy Cuts
Trump claimed that Elon Musk’s decision to form a new party is linked to his anger over Trump’s new tax and spending bill. The bill includes plans to end subsidies that encourage people to buy electric vehicles—something that directly affects Musk’s Tesla business. According to Trump, Musk is reacting out of frustration with the policy.
Accusation About NASA Nomination
Trump also accused Musk of trying to gain improper political influence by requesting that his friend, Jared Isaacman, be appointed as NASA administrator. Trump said that it was not appropriate for someone so closely connected to Musk’s business interests—especially someone involved in space ventures—to lead NASA, which works closely with Musk’s SpaceX. After Musk left his unpaid government advisory role, the nomination of Isaacman was canceled.
Treasury Secretary Advises Musk to Focus on Business
On the same day, Trump’s former Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, also criticized Musk during a CNN interview. He said Musk should focus on running his companies and stay away from politics. Bessent mentioned that Musk’s “Doge” department, which was created to cut government costs during Trump’s second term, had low approval ratings. He pointed out that investors and board members of Musk’s companies, like Tesla, were unhappy with Musk’s political involvement and wanted him to return full-time to his businesses.
Background on the “Doge” Department
The Department of Government Efficiency, also called “Doge,” was a temporary unit created after Trump’s second presidency started in January. Elon Musk was appointed to lead it, and he made major budget and job cuts in several areas of the federal government. Although some of his changes were praised for saving money, public response was mostly negative, and many employees lost their jobs.
Musk Announces the “America Party”
On Saturday night and early Sunday, Elon Musk launched a new political group called the “America Party”. He made the announcement through a series of posts on X, the social media platform he owns. Musk criticized the current two-party system, saying it doesn’t truly represent American people anymore. He claimed that both Democrats and Republicans have contributed to the financial problems in the country and called the U.S. political system a “one-party system.”
Musk Criticizes Trump’s Spending Bill
Musk’s announcement came just one day after Trump signed his major tax and spending bill into law during a Fourth of July picnic at the White House. Musk had openly criticized the bill before, calling it “insane.” According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill will increase the national deficit by $3.3 trillion by 2034. It provides tax breaks for the rich and cuts social programs, which could result in millions of Americans losing their healthcare.
Musk Polls Public Support on Independence from Two Parties
On Friday, Musk posted a poll asking people if they wanted independence from the two-party system. According to Musk, the results showed that two out of three voters agreed with the idea. Encouraged by the poll, he officially announced the America Party, saying it would “give you back your freedom.”
No Clear Structure Yet, but Goals Are Set
Musk has not shared specific details about the new party’s structure, leadership, or registration. However, he did say that the party would target a few key Senate and House seats, enough to possibly influence lawmaking in a closely divided Congress. He believes this could allow his party to hold the deciding votes on major issues and ensure that legislation reflects “the will of the people.”
Musk and Trump’s Feud Continues
The launch of the America Party marks another break in the on-and-off friendship between Musk and Trump. When their relationship soured earlier this year, Musk posted a controversial tweet that hinted at Trump’s name being linked to files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Musk later deleted the post and apologized. But on Sunday, Musk reopened the issue by reposting a photo of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate, and questioned why no other powerful men had been jailed in connection with Epstein’s crimes.
Musk Suggests It’s Time for a Political Shake-Up
In his latest social media posts, Musk said it would be “not hard” to break the two-party hold on U.S. politics. He asked followers to suggest locations for the first American Party Congress, saying “this will be super fun.” He appeared confident and enthusiastic about changing the political landscape.
Trump Responds with Threats
Trump, unhappy with Musk’s growing criticism, recently said he might “look into” deporting Musk, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from South Africa. He also hinted at cutting subsidies to Musk’s businesses, especially SpaceX, which holds large government contracts. Trump also made a joking reference, saying, “Doge is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn’t that be terrible?”
Challenges Ahead for Musk’s Party
Even though Musk is rich and famous, building a successful political party in the U.S. is very difficult. There is no need to register with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) right away, but once spending passes a certain limit, reporting becomes mandatory. Also, each state has its own rules for getting on election ballots, which can be expensive and time-consuming. Experts say it will take years and a huge budget to make Musk’s party truly competitive.
Musk Has Spent Millions on Trump Before
Despite their current rivalry, Musk supported Trump in the past. He is believed to have spent more than $275 million to help Trump win a second term in the 2024 election. Their split over policy and leadership style shows how quickly alliances can change in U.S. politics.
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