By Satyabrat Borah
The relationship between two of the most influential figures in the world U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has taken a dramatic turn, sparking a political storm that could reshape the landscape of American governance. What began as a seemingly strong alliance during the 2024 U.S. presidential election has now deteriorated into a public feud, with Elon Musk announcing his intention to form a new political party aimed at representing the interests of America’s middle class. This bold move by Musk, a visionary known for revolutionizing industries like electric vehicles and space exploration, has sent shockwaves through the political and business worlds, raising questions about the future of American politics and the potential impact of this rift on both domestic and global stages.
The alliance between Donald Trump and Elon Musk was once a powerful one. During the 2024 presidential election, Musk emerged as one of Trump’s most significant financial backers, pouring approximately $300 million into his campaign through various political action committees, most notably the America PAC, which Musk founded to support Trump and other Republican candidates. This substantial financial support was widely credited with helping Trump secure a victory in the election, marking his return to the White House for a second term. Musk’s contributions were not just financial; his public endorsements and use of his massive social media platform, X, amplified Trump’s message, reaching millions of voters and shaping public opinion in key battleground states.
Following the election, Trump rewarded Musk’s loyalty by appointing him as co-director of a newly created agency called the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), a nod to Musk’s affinity for the cryptocurrency Dogecoin. The mission of DOGE was ambitious: to slash government spending and reduce the federal workforce by a staggering 75 percent. This initiative aligned with Musk’s long-standing belief in efficiency and innovation, and it initially appeared that the partnership between Trump and Musk would usher in a new era of government reform. The collaboration was hailed by some as a bold experiment, combining Trump’s political influence with Musk’s business acumen and technological vision.
However, the honeymoon period was short-lived. By May 2025, just 130 days after his appointment, Musk stepped down from his role at DOGE, citing frustrations with the pace of reform and the direction of Trump’s policies. The breaking point came when Musk publicly opposed Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a massive domestic policy bill that bundled several of Trump’s key initiatives. The bill included significant tax cuts, such as removing taxes on Social Security income, tips, and overtime pay, which Trump touted as relief for the middle class. However, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that while the bill would deliver $3.7 trillion in tax cuts, it would also increase the national debt by $2.4 trillion over a decade and necessitate a $4 trillion increase in the debt ceiling. Musk, a self-proclaimed fiscal conservative, slammed the bill as “exaggerated” and “pork-filled,” calling it a “grotesque insult” to fiscal responsibility.
Musk’s criticism did not sit well with Trump. The former president took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to lash out at Musk, accusing him of being upset over the abrupt cancellation of electric vehicle (EV) mandates, a policy shift that could cost Tesla billions in potential revenue. Trump went further, threatening to terminate federal contracts and subsidies with Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, which rely heavily on government partnerships for projects like space exploration and satellite launches. In response, Musk fired back on X, claiming that Trump would not have won the election without his financial and public support, and that Democrats would have retained control of both the House and Senate without his intervention. In a series of heated posts, Musk even called for Trump’s impeachment and referenced unverified claims about Trump’s alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein’s documents, escalating the personal nature of the feud.
The public spat reached a new level when Musk took to X to conduct a poll, asking his 220 million followers whether America needed a new political party to represent the 80 percent of the population he described as the middle class. The response was overwhelming, with 80 percent of respondents supporting the idea. Emboldened by this feedback, Musk proposed the name “America Party” for his new political venture, a name that echoed the America PAC he had established in 2024 to support Trump and other Republicans. This announcement marked a significant shift, signaling Musk’s intent to not only distance himself from Trump but also challenge the dominance of the two major parties—Democrats and Republicans—that have long controlled American politics.
Forming a new political party in the United States is no small feat. The American political system is deeply entrenched, with Democrats and Republicans holding a near-monopoly on ballot access, funding, and voter loyalty. New parties face significant hurdles, including navigating complex state-by-state regulations to secure ballot access, building a grassroots organization, and attracting credible candidates. Despite these challenges, Musk’s vast wealth, estimated at over $400 billion, and his ability to leverage X as a platform for political messaging give him a unique advantage. His vision for the America Party appears to center on fiscal responsibility, government efficiency, and policies that prioritize the middle class, though specific details about the party’s platform remain scarce.
Trump, for his part, has downplayed Musk’s threat. In a Friday phone interview with Fox News, he dismissed the idea of a new party, stating that his poll numbers remain strong and that Republicans in Congress continue to support his agenda. Trump even jokingly threatened to sell the red Tesla Model S he purchased in March, a symbolic jab at Musk’s business empire. A White House official confirmed that Trump has no plans to reach out to Musk to mend the rift, signaling that the feud is far from over. The tension has already had tangible effects, with Tesla’s stock price dropping 14 percent in the wake of the dispute, wiping out $150 billion in market value and raising concerns among investors about the stability of Musk’s business ventures.
The feud has also exposed divisions within the Republican Party. Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” narrowly passed the House by a single vote, but it faces significant opposition in the Senate, where some Republican senators worry about the electoral consequences of supporting a bill that could balloon the national debt. Musk’s criticism of the bill has found support among a faction of Republicans, including Representatives Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson, who voted against the bill in the House. These lawmakers share Musk’s concerns about fiscal irresponsibility, highlighting a growing rift within the party between Trump loyalists and those who prioritize long-term economic stability.
Democrats, meanwhile, have largely stayed out of the fray, though some quietly hope that Musk’s actions will weaken the Republican Party and create opportunities for Democratic gains in future elections. Political analysts are divided on the potential impact of Musk’s America Party. Some see it as a long shot, given the structural barriers to third-party success in the U.S. Others argue that Musk’s wealth, influence, and ability to mobilize voters through social media could make the party a viable force, particularly if it taps into widespread frustration with the two-party system. The middle class, which Musk claims to champion, has long felt squeezed by rising costs, stagnant wages, and a sense of being overlooked by both Democrats and Republicans. If Musk can craft a compelling message and deliver on his promises, the America Party could attract a significant following.
The broader implications of this feud extend beyond politics. Musk’s companies, particularly Tesla and SpaceX, are deeply intertwined with government contracts and subsidies, and any move by Trump to retaliate could have serious consequences for Musk’s business empire. Conversely, Musk’s criticism of Trump’s policies and his potential to disrupt the Republican voter base could undermine Trump’s agenda and weaken his grip on the party. The personal nature of the dispute—marked by heated social media exchanges and public insults—has also captivated the public, turning what might have been a policy disagreement into a high-stakes drama.
As of June 08, 2025, the future of this conflict remains uncertain. Musk has noted that Trump’s term has 3.5 years left, but he has vowed to remain active in politics for decades to come, leveraging his wealth, influence, and vision to shape the future of America. Whether the America Party will become a serious contender or merely a footnote in political history is unclear, but the rift between Trump and Musk has already introduced new dynamics into American politics. The clash between these two titans, one a political powerhouse, the other a business and technological visionary has the potential to redefine the priorities and alliances of the nation.
The world is watching as this saga unfolds. Will Musk’s America Party gain traction and challenge the dominance of the two-party system? Will Trump’s threats against Musk’s businesses materialize, and if so, how will Musk respond? And how will this feud affect the millions of Americans who feel caught in the middle, hoping for leadership that addresses their needs and aspirations? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the quarrel between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has set the stage for a new chapter in American politics, one that could have far-reaching consequences for the nation and the world.
