Elon Musk has begun laying the groundwork for a national third party he calls the “America Party,” aiming to run a small slate of congressional candidates committed to curbing federal spending. The Tesla and SpaceX chief, worth an estimated US$250 billion, unveiled the idea after denouncing President Donald Trump’s recently enacted “Big Beautiful Bill” as fiscally reckless. Trump, asked about the venture at a White House press conference this week, played down its threat to his own prospects, saying “third parties are always good for me.” Several Republican lawmakers were less sanguine, warning the move could fracture the conservative vote in next year’s mid-term elections. Musk has turned to Curtis Yarvin, a Silicon Valley-influential monarchist blogger, for advice on shaping the new organisation, according to the New York Times. Political strategists note that securing ballot access in all 50 states would require tens of thousands of signatures and compliance with Federal Election Commission rules—an undertaking that typically takes multiple election cycles. A Quantus Insights survey carried out from 20 June to 2 July found 40% of U.S. voters would be at least somewhat likely to back America Party candidates, with support rising to 57% among male Republicans. While that backing may not translate into outright victories, analysts say it could be large enough to siphon votes from GOP nominees in closely fought districts, repeating the spoiler dynamics that have marked past third-party bids.
Elon Musk says he’s starting third party. Poll shows if Americans are interested https://t.co/l2uCMCeaZ0
MAGA supporters could be "drawn to Musk's views about government spending, technology and trade," a political scientist told Newsweek. https://t.co/o5ighy5DDz
Watch: @JohnAvlon and @TheRickWilson dive into the collapse of the GOP establishment, the dangers of third-party fantasies like Elon Musk’s "America Party," why Trumpism remains a threat to democracy, and more: https://t.co/eXg5KRrkNH