Trump criticises Musk’s newly formed America Party as “ridiculous,” intensifying his ongoing feud with the tech entrepreneur while suggesting that Musk’s actions could harm the Republican Party’s success.
As he spoke to reporters shortly before boarding Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey, on Sunday, Trump remarked, “I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party. We have tremendous success with the Republican Party. The Democrats have lost their way, but it’s always been a two-party system, and creating a third party just adds to confusion.”
He further stated, “It really seems to have been developed for two parties. Third parties have never worked, so he can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”
Following these comments, Trump expressed more criticism of Musk on his Truth Social platform. “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks,” he posted.
Musk revealed the formation of the “America Party” on Saturday, claiming it was in reaction to Trump’s recently approved tax-cut and spending legislation. Musk labelled the bill as fiscally reckless, suggesting it could escalate the national deficit by $5 trillion. “What the heck was the point of @DOGE if he’s just going to increase the debt by $5 trillion?” he posted on X, referring to the government downsizing agency he briefly led.
Additionally, Musk promised to challenge Republican incumbents in the coming midterm elections who backed what he termed the “big, beautiful bill.”
The discord between Trump and Musk marks a significant shift from their previously close political partnership. Musk was frequently seen alongside Trump during his 2024 re-election campaign, donating millions to support the effort. Their relationship deteriorated after the spending bill’s passage, which removed essential green-energy credits that were advantageous for Tesla.
In light of Musk’s criticisms, Trump has threatened to revoke government subsidies and contracts granted to Tesla and SpaceX.
Trump also reignited discussions surrounding his previous nomination of Jared Isaacman, a billionaire private astronaut and ally of Musk, for a leadership position at NASA. Although Isaacman’s nomination was withdrawn in May prior to a Senate vote, Trump confirmed that his decision stemmed from concerns about potential conflicts of interest and political connections.
“I also thought it inappropriate that a very close friend of Elon, who was in the Space Business, run NASA, when NASA is such a significant part of Elon’s corporate life,” Trump expressed on Truth Social. “My Number One charge is to protect the American Public!”