Elon Musk’s Political Gamble May Already Be Crashing and Burning
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has officially launched his own political party—the “America Party”—but early signs suggest the venture may be doomed before it even begins. With support barely registering in national polls and harsh criticism from President Donald Trump, Musk’s bold attempt to reshape American politics is off to a rocky start.
CNN’s lead data analyst Harry Enten didn’t mince words during a Monday segment of News Central, where he openly mocked the party’s early numbers. According to Enten, just 4% of voters say they both support Musk and oppose the Republican Party—hardly the groundswell needed to kickstart a serious third-party movement.
“This entire thing makes very little sense to me,” Enten remarked, comparing Musk’s effort to “selling sand in the desert.” He explained that most Americans who admire Musk already lean Republican, making it difficult for Musk to carve out a distinct, viable voter base.
At the heart of Musk’s new party is a growing feud with the GOP, fueled by his vocal opposition to Trump’s sweeping “Big Beautiful Bill” on government funding. The legislation, championed by Trump and widely embraced by the Republican base, drew Musk’s ire—sparking a public breakdown in their once-cozy relationship.
Musk made his move official last week, registering the America Party with the Federal Election Commission, triggering immediate political fallout. Within hours, Trump fired back with a blistering rebuke, calling the move “ridiculous” and branding Musk as someone who had “gone completely off the rails.”
Speaking from his Bedminster golf club, Trump slammed the concept of third parties altogether. “Third parties have never worked in this country,” he said. “We’ve had tremendous success with the Republican Party. Starting a new one only adds to confusion.”
The President didn’t stop there. In a now-viral post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks. He even wants to start a Third Political Party, despite the fact that they have never succeeded in the United States.”
Historically, third-party efforts in America have rarely succeeded, often becoming political footnotes or spoilers in tight races. Ross Perot, Ralph Nader, and more recently Howard Schultz all attempted similar disruptions—with minimal long-term impact.
Despite his massive social media presence and cultural influence, Musk may be running into the same brutal reality: Americans are still deeply entrenched in the two-party system.
As it stands, Musk’s America Party lacks clear policy direction, grassroots infrastructure, and—perhaps most importantly—voter enthusiasm. Without a clear message or coalition, analysts suggest the party risks being seen as a vanity project fueled by personal grudges rather than national vision.
With Trump’s dominance over the Republican base as strong as ever, and with Democrats largely dismissing Musk as a political sideshow, the road ahead looks steep.
Unless Musk can find a compelling reason for voters to abandon the familiar—and fast—the America Party may become little more than a political punchline.
