Elon Musk backs away from third-party plans after rift with Trump – KOMO
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by KAYLA GASKINS | The National News Desk
WASHINGTON (TNND) — Less than three months after announcing plans to launch the “America Party,” billionaire Elon Musk is quietly backing away from his third-party ambitions — at least for now.
Sources say Musk is turning his focus back to Tesla, SpaceX and his other companies, a move welcomed by investors who have long been wary of his political entanglements.
Musk’s political pivot follows a very public falling-out with President Donald Trump earlier this summer. Once praised as a trusted adviser, Musk quickly became persona non grata at the White House after criticizing Trump’s signature tax-and-spending bill. Musk reportedly opposed provisions that rolled back electric vehicle subsidies, which directly impact Tesla.
The rift deepened as Musk began posting repeated criticisms of Trump online, even invoking the controversy over the Jeffrey Epstein files. Trump, in turn, lashed out at Musk and threatened to pull federal subsidies from his companies. Still, the president later walked that back, saying he did not want to “destroy” Musk’s businesses.
Despite the feud, Musk has sought to maintain ties with Vice President JD Vance, widely viewed as the heir-apparent to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement. Vance recently urged Musk not to break from the president, calling it a “mistake,” while acknowledging Musk’s crucial role in helping Republicans win the 2024 election.
Musk and Vance have reportedly stayed in touch since the fallout. According to associates, Musk fears launching a new party would splinter GOP voters and harm his relationship with Vance — a politician Musk is likely to support if he runs for president in 2028.
There are also signs Musk may be trying to repair his relationship with Trump. In late June, he donated $15 million to the GOP and publicly praised the president’s controversial decision to deploy the National Guard to address crime in Washington, D.C.
For now, Musk’s “America Party” plans appear on hold. But sources stress he has not ruled out reviving the idea ahead of the 2026 midterms.
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