San Francisco: US billionaire Elon Musk floated the idea of launching a new political party this week, potentially intensifying his ongoing feud with former ally President Donald Trump. Amid his ongoing criticism of Trump, Musk posted a poll on X asking his 220 million followers whether it is "time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle."
According to Anadolu Agency, 80% of those who responded to Musk's poll supported the idea, and the Tesla CEO expressed his enthusiasm by stating, "This is fate." Musk later backed a supporter's suggestion to name the new party the 'America Party,' a title reminiscent of America PAC (Political Action Committee) he launched last year, which spent $239 million supporting Trump and other Republicans in the 2024 elections.
Launching a new political party in the US poses a major challenge. While Democrats, Republicans, and some established third parties already enjoy widespread ballot access, any new party aiming to compete must overcome complex, state-specific requirements to get its candidates listed.
Musk also appeared to consider a post suggesting the reform of one of the major parties "from the inside out" rather than founding a third party, responding with a contemplative "Hmm." It remains unclear how committed Musk is to the idea of leaving the Republican Party.