America Party or American Chaos

July 7th, 2025
Dhruv Arun

After a dramatic falling out with the President, billionaire Elon Musk said Saturday he is forming a third political party, making good on his threats if the President's domestic policy bill became law. On Saturday, Musk said on X, “When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy.” Then, Elon Musk said that he has formed a new political party, the “America Party,” which he claims will give Americans “back your freedom.” Musk wrote on X, “By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!” one day after he posted a poll on the platform asking his followers if they support creating the “America Party.” on Friday, Musk suggested that the new party could focus, “on just 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts.” Musk furthered, saying, “Given the razor-thin legislative margins, that would be enough to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws, ensuring that they serve the true will of the people.” Musk said in other posts to social media this week that his party would become an active political force during next year’s midterm elections and that it would initially focus on supporting candidates in just a handful of House and Senate races.

Musk, once an ever-present ally to Trump while he headed the slashing agency known as the Department of Government Efficiency, broke up with the president over his signature legislation, the OBBB, which was signed into law Friday. Musk lamented the legislation—which is projected to add trillions to the federal debt—as a “disgusting abomination.” On Monday, Musk further noted, “It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country.” For his part, Trump called Musk’s announcement of the new party “ridiculous” and said it would sow confusion. Trump furthered by saying, “I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party. We have had tremendous success with the Republican Party.” He added by saying that, “it’s always been a two-party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to confusion.” Trump wrote on Truth Social that, “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks.” Trump added by saying, “Third parties have never worked, so he can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”

It’s unclear to what extent Musk has taken the steps necessary toward legally forming the party, which would be required to register with the Federal Election Commission. There were multiple political parties listed in the Federal Election Commission database that had been formed in the hours since Musk’s X post with versions of “America Party”, “DOGE” or “X” in the name, or Musk listed among people affiliated with the entity. But none appeared to be authentic, listing contacts for the organization as email addresses such as “wentsnowboarding@yahoo.com” or untraceable Protonmail addresses. Musk did not say where the party may be registered. Musk wrote on X, “Backing a candidate for president is not out of the question, but the focus for the next 12 months is on the House and the Senate,” on Sunday. The two-party system in the United States has long been criticized by both registered Democrats and Republicans, but efforts in the last century to form a third party have shown little success.

Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, said that the goals of Mr. Musk’s past government cost-cutting efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency were popular, “but if you look at the polling, Elon was not.” Bessent said, “I imagine that those board of directors did not like this announcement yesterday and will be encouraging him to focus on his business activities, not his political activities.” Musk’s criticisms of the bill and move to form a political party mark a reversal from May, when his time in the White House was winding down. As the head of rocket company SpaceX and electric vehicle maker Tesla, he said he would spend “a lot less” on politics in the future.

Extemp Analysis by: Ty Tan

As we move into a new era of American politics, a new political party would be interesting.

Question: Will Elon Musk’s America Party reshape the balance of power in Congress?

AGD: For your AGD, use a Musk joke. Check X or anywhere on Reddit and you’ll have infinite material.
Background: For your background, you need to lay the groundwork for the squo change. I would emphasize:

What led to the Musk wanting to create a new party (ie the fallout and OBBB)
Why this is significant / where 3rd parties have failed in the past
What credibility / laying out the conflict possibility of Musk’s party being able to reshape power

Answer: No, because it isn’t credible

Lack of Campaign Experience
Chaotic Nature
US Political Entrenchment

Analysis + Concluding Thoughts:

I personally like the idea behind the third point the most. Both American parties are so entrenched and well funded, that no 3rd party can credibly push them out. The first point is obvious because Musk can’t actually campaign, though your second point can be anything you choose.