President Trump on Sunday slammed billionaire Elon Musk’s announcement that he was starting a third party, the latest in a back-and-forth between the two men.
“I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party,” the president responded when asked about Musk’s recent announcement. “We have a tremendous success with the Republican Party. The Democrats have lost their way. But it’s always been a two-party system. And I think starting a third party just adds to confusion. 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,” Trump added.
Musk on Saturday announced that he was launching the “America Party” after repeated threats to create a third party in response to the passage of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which Musk opposed.
“By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!,” Musk wrote on X. “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”
It’s not yet clear if Musk will follow through with the party in the wake of his announcement. But the move comes after the two men’s once close relationship devolved into backbiting for the second time in a matter of months as Republicans in Congress worked to pass the megabill, which Trump signed into law on Friday.
In addition to the formation of the “America Party,” Musk has also vowed to use his considerable fortune to back primary challengers against Republicans who voted for the bill. He has also said he will work to defend Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who ran afoul of Trump after opposing the spending package.
Musk and Trump have had a fraught relationship over the last couple months despite the SpaceX founder emerging as one of the president’s closest allies in last year’s election. After feuding last month over the bill, the two men seemingly reached a detente — only to once again start sniping at each other over the past week.
Some Republicans have expressed concern that Musk could distract Republicans from unifying as they look to hold onto their slim House majority in a challenging election environment next year.
“One of the most destructive behaviors that we’ve had in cycles where we’ve been unsuccessful in Senate races … are those in which we have expended massive resources in intraparty warfare,” one Republican consultant told The Hill regarding Musk’s primary threats.
