Tech billionaire and world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has announced the formation of a new political party in the United States, aimed at challenging what he described as the country’s entrenched “one-party system.”
Musk, who was once a strong ally and major donor to President Donald Trump, made the announcement on Saturday via his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter).
“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste and graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” Musk posted.
“Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”
The announcement marks a dramatic political shift for Musk, who previously led Trump’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency, a short-lived initiative that focused on cutting government jobs and slashing public spending.
The fallout between Musk and Trump reportedly escalated last month following disagreements over Trump’s proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill” — a sweeping federal spending plan that passed through Congress and was signed into law despite criticism from fiscal conservatives.
Musk had publicly opposed the bill, accusing its supporters of promoting “debt slavery,” and vowed to challenge lawmakers who backed it despite pledging to reduce federal spending. Economists have estimated the legislation could add $3.4 trillion to the U.S. deficit over the next decade.
Following Musk’s criticism, President Trump responded with threats to revoke federal funding for Musk’s companies and even suggested the possibility of deporting the South African-born entrepreneur, who became a U.S. citizen in 2002.
Asked by journalists whether he would consider deporting Musk, Trump replied, “We’ll have to take a look.”
The tensions between the former allies come as Musk continues to position himself as an independent voice in American politics.
On Friday, July 4 (U.S. Independence Day), Musk posted a poll on X asking users whether they wanted to “gain independence from the two-party — some would say uniparty — system.”
The poll drew more than 1.2 million responses, with a majority supporting the formation of a new political party.
“By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party — and you shall have it!” Musk wrote in his follow-up post on Saturday.
The America Party, as Musk named it, is expected to field candidates in future elections as an alternative to both the Republican and Democratic parties.
It is unclear for now how much traction the party will gain or whether Musk intends to run for political office himself.
