Musk enters political arena with new ‘America Party’

Elon Musk is a billionaire entrepreneur, CEO of Tesla, and SpaceX. He has launched the America Party, a political party that will represent the “80% of people in the middle”, as he describes it. The announcement was made on 5 July via his social media platform X. (formerly Twitter) and marks one of most important outsider entry into American politics.

Musk has been at odds with the two major political parties in the United States for some time. The America Party was formed to bridge this growing gap. Musk had previously supported candidates on both sides. However, his recent fallout with Donald Trump who he backed in 2024 via a super PAC has prompted a drastic shift in direction.

Musk has criticised in a series posts the current political system, which he believes is dominated by a corrupt uni-party made up of both Democrats & Republicans. He claims the America Party will offer an alternative focused on transparency, economic growth, and protecting civil liberties—particularly around freedom of speech, digital rights, and innovation. Musk wrote, “I am done choosing the lesser evil,” in a pinnable post. The America Party is for people who want to see real progress, and not political showmanship. His call to actions came after a viral poll he conducted online garnered overwhelming backing for a new form of politics. Early messaging suggests that the platform is rooted in libertarian ideals with a focus decentralisation, business-friendly policies and less federal interference.

Musk’s party has set a short-term goal of winning several key seats in Congress during the 2026 midterms. Analysts say that with billions of dollars at his disposal, Musk could be in a unique position to disrupt the U.S. politics landscape. This is especially true given his large online following and his control of influential platforms. Skeptics say that third-party initiatives in the U.S. are faced with steep institutional obstacles, such as ballot access laws and a “winner-takes-all” electoral process that marginalises non-major political parties.

Musk’s break-up with Trump became public after disagreements over a tax-and-spending measure that Musk opposed and called “fiscal sanity.” Trump’s allies launched a counter-offensive to combat Musk’s increasing influence. They also created a super PAC. Musk’s action has received criticism from both political parties. However, it has also sparked enthusiasm among some sections of the population, especially younger and independent voters who are disillusioned about the current status quo.

Although the America Party is in its early stages, its launch already has sparked a heated political debate. It remains to be determined if it can convert digital popularity into electoral victory. Elon Musk’s desire to shape the future American democracy is now clear. He wants to do more than just influence the future of rockets, cars, and AI.