Elon Musk’s political ambitions branded ‘Disruptive Circus’ by Trump

Department of Research, Studies and International News -07-07-2025

In a striking display of infighting among American power brokers, U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a fierce attack on tech billionaire Elon Musk, mocking the latter’s announcement of a new political party as a “ridiculous” move that risks plunging the already fragile U.S. political system into further chaos.

Trump’s comments, made during an impromptu press briefing before boarding Air Force One from his New Jersey golf resort, reflect the deepening rift between the two men, once known for their close collaboration when Musk led the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The fallout stems largely from disagreements over Trump’s massive tax and spending bill, a project Musk denounced as reckless and unsustainable.

“I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party,” Trump stated. “It’s always been a two-party system in America, and these third-party ventures only add confusion. They never work.” Despite Trump’s attempt to downplay the initiative, analysts believe Musk’s bold challenge could disrupt the electoral dynamics ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Musk, a South African-born billionaire known for leading SpaceX and Tesla, announced over the weekend the launch of the “America Party,” which he claimed was necessary to combat what he described as the U.S. “one-party system.” Musk accused both Democrats and Republicans of enabling corruption and financial recklessness, particularly by supporting ballooning domestic expenditures that he says threaten to bankrupt the country.

“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste and graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” Musk wrote on X, the platform he owns.

Despite offering few concrete details about the structure or registration status of the new political party, Musk’s announcement has already triggered unease among Republican ranks, with many fearing his intervention could split the conservative vote, weakening Trump’s camp and handing strategic advantage to Democrats in future elections.

Trump, visibly rattled by the potential impact, doubled down via his own social media platform, Truth Social, using highly charged language to describe Musk’s trajectory.

“I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks,” he posted. “Third parties only bring DISRUPTION and CHAOS, and we’ve got enough of that from the Radical Left Democrats.”

The former president also revived earlier accusations that Musk’s opposition stemmed from self-interest, linking it to the removal of electric vehicle subsidies from his administration’s latest spending bill, a move that affects Tesla directly. However, Musk maintains that his objections are driven by concerns over the ballooning national debt, not personal business losses.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added to the criticism, dismissing Musk’s political aspirations and urging him to focus on his corporations. In a televised interview, Bessent remarked that Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, likely expected him to prioritize their leadership over political ambitions.

“I believe the boards of his companies would prefer that he return to what he does best,” Bessent stated, suggesting that Musk’s political distraction might not sit well with his corporate stakeholders.

Musk’s departure from the Department of Government Efficiency back in May was widely seen as an effort to reestablish focus on his business empire, particularly after Tesla’s public image took a hit during his political entanglement with Trump. The relationship, once characterized by grand symbolic gestures, including Musk receiving a bizarre “golden key to the White House” from Trump, quickly soured when Musk criticized Trump’s fiscal policies just days after the ceremony.

Since then, the feud has escalated in full view of the public, played out across rival social media platforms. The exchange not only underscores the unraveling relationship between two of America’s most visible figures but also signals a broader fracture within the U.S. establishment, where billionaire entrepreneurs and career politicians increasingly collide over power, influence, and vision.

As the American political apparatus grows more polarized and erratic, critics around the world, especially from regions long targeted by Washington’s aggressive foreign policy, view these developments as signs of systemic instability. In contrast to the West’s chaotic and ego-driven political spectacle, powers like China, Russia, and Iran continue to assert alternative models of governance grounded in long-term strategy and multipolar cooperation.

While the American elite remains busy bickering, the world is watching, and rethinking its alliances.