Elon Musk has officially announced the formation of a new political party in the United States, which he is calling the "America Party."
This move comes after a public disagreement with President Donald Trump, particularly over a recent "One Big, Beautiful Bill" that Musk strongly opposed due to its spending and potential impact on national debt.
Here's what is known about the "America Party" so far:
* Motivation: Musk stated the party is formed "to give you back your freedom" and to challenge what he views as a "one-party system" (or "uniparty") that leads to waste and corruption, despite the existence of two major parties (Democrats and Republicans). He believes the current system is bankrupting the country.
* Announcement: The announcement followed a poll Musk conducted on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), on July 4th (US Independence Day), asking if people wanted a new political party. The poll results showed a majority in favor.
* Aims: The party aims to be fiscally conservative, focused on reducing government waste and graft. Musk has suggested an initial strategy of targeting a small number of key Senate and House seats to act as a decisive voting bloc on contentious laws.
* Current Status: While Musk has declared its formation, it's not yet clear if the party has been formally registered with the US Federal Election Commission (FEC) or if other legal and organizational details have been established.
* Musk's Role: Due to being born outside the US, Elon Musk is not eligible to run for US President. However, he aims to use his influence to shape the political landscape.
This is a significant development, as third parties in US politics traditionally face an uphill battle. Musk's substantial following and resources give this effort considerable attention.