Trump Slams Musk’s New Political Party as 'Ridiculous'

In a surprising turn of events, former allies Trump and Musk find themselves at odds over the launch of Musk's America Party.

Former President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Elon Musk's recent venture into politics, referring to the billionaire's proposed America Party as "ridiculous." Speaking to reporters ahead of his departure on Air Force One, Trump expressed his belief that the U.S. operates on a two-party system and adding a third party would only complicate the political landscape.

Musk, the CEO of Tesla, announced the formation of the America Party on X over the weekend after hinting at the idea for several weeks. This new political party aims to rival the long-standing Republican and Democratic parties.

The two were once considered allies, with Musk even leading an initiative known as the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) aimed at reducing federal spending. However, tensions between the two have escalated, particularly surrounding the topic of electric vehicles.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed disappointment in Musk's trajectory, labeling his actions as a “train wreck” in recent weeks. He specifically criticized Musk’s proposal for an "Electric Vehicle (EV) Mandate," arguing that it would have mandated rapid adoption of electric cars, a stance that contradicts Trump’s recent policy changes which removed tax breaks for electric vehicles.

Trump has long opposed the idea of an EV mandate, emphasizing that consumers should have the freedom to choose their vehicles, whether gasoline, hybrid, or any emerging technologies. The legislation signed by Trump on July 4th includes increased funding for areas such as border security and defense but has faced backlash for cuts to healthcare and food-support initiatives.

As Musk and Trump engage in this public feud, the future of Musk's political endeavors remains uncertain, with the potential to disrupt the established political order in the United States.