Trump dismisses Musk’s third party idea as ‘ridiculous’

WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump pushed back Sunday against tech billionaire Elon Musk’s move to form a new political party, calling it "ridiculous."

"I think it's ridiculous to start a third party," Trump told reporters in Morristown, New Jersey.

His remarks came a day after Musk announced that the "America Party" was formed after he conducted a poll on X asking the public if they wanted a new political party.

Trump said the Republican Party has achieved "tremendous" success.

"It's always been a two-party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to confusion…He can have fun with it, but I think it's ridiculous," he added.

The relationship between Trump and Musk, once marked by collaboration and mutual support, has deteriorated into a highly public and acrimonious feud since Musk started criticizing Trump’s One, Big Beautiful Bill, an ambitious tax and spending package, calling it “utterly insane and destructive.”

Last month, Musk proposed launching a new political party, asking his followers on X if it is “time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle."

He later backed a supporter’s suggestion to name the new party the “America Party,” similar to the America PAC (Political Action Committee) he launched last year, which spent $239 million supporting Trump and other Republicans in the 2024 elections.

Later taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump said he is "saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely 'off the rails,' essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks."

Hailing his tax-cut and spending bill, Trump said it is "a Great Bill but, unfortunately for Elon, it eliminates the ridiculous Electric Vehicle (EV) Mandate, which would have forced everyone to buy an Electric Car in a short period of time."

Trump said that under the new legislation, Americans will be free to choose between gasoline-powered cars, hybrids and other emerging technologies without federal pressure to shift to electric-only options.

"I have campaigned on this for two years and, quite honestly, when Elon gave me his total and unquestioned Endorsement, I asked him whether or not he knew that I was going to terminate the EV Mandate - It was in every speech I made, and in every conversation I had. He said he had no problems with that - I was very surprised!

"Additionally, Elon asked that one of his close friends run NASA and, while I thought his friend was very good, I was surprised to learn that he was a blue blooded Democrat, who had never contributed to a Republican before. Elon probably was, also. 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 big part of Elon’s corporate life," he added.

Musk said on X that the America Party is "needed to fight the Republican/Democrat Uniparty."