The 'American Party' initiated by Musk is sparking heated discussions in American society. This emerging force is rapidly rising with a support rate of 40%, creating a three-way power struggle with the Democratic and Republican parties. On the surface, this represents a strengthening voice of the centrist group, reflecting public dissatisfaction with the traditional political landscape; but on a deeper level, its essence is the intertwining of capital power and public sentiment — leveraging the wealth of his business empire and the influence of social media, Musk accurately captures people's opinions on the existing system and gathers dispersed social emotions into an influential force through compelling expression.
The response from the Republican Party is particularly notable in this change. Trump urgently posted that he is 'inclusive of different views,' adopting a tone that is unusually mild, seemingly showing inclusiveness but actually sensing potential impact. The 'American Party' advocates for 'opposing the established system' and 'opposing elite dominance,' which is similar to Trump's approach in attracting supporters, targeting those discontented blue-collar workers, ordinary conservative citizens, and young groups — these are the important support bases for the Republican Party. Once this emerging force grows stronger, Republican supporters may be diverted, and their influence may also be affected.
However, Musk's attempt to break through the limitations of the American electoral system is much harder than simply investing money to create momentum. The 'winner-takes-all' electoral college rules fundamentally limit the development space for new forces. History has shown that both the past Reform Party and some influential proposals, even if they can provoke short-term attention, ultimately struggle to change the overall pattern. This institutional design naturally tends to concentrate influence within the framework of the two major forces, and any new force attempting to break the balance will either be absorbed by mainstream groups or gradually marginalized in the diversion of support.
Musk may gain attention in public opinion due to his wealth advantage, attracting attention with a series of topics — such as commenting on public issues on social media or evaluating traditional political figures, which can easily spark widespread discussions. However, when elections enter the practical stage, specific mechanisms such as voting rules in various states, district divisions, and the allocation of electoral votes will become obstacles that this emerging force finds difficult to overcome. Capital can buy exposure opportunities, but it is hard to obtain institutional development channels; public sentiment can bring short-term attention, but it is difficult to translate into a stable support group.
This new attempt led by business figures is more like an exploration in the context of increasing social divisions in the United States. It may temporarily break the dominance of the two-party system, but it is unlikely to truly change the fundamental logic of American politics. When the heat dissipates, this attempt may ultimately become a political interlude in Musk's business landscape or a variable affecting elections, leaving a special record of the interaction between capital and social forces in history.
