Elon Musk is changing the rules again — this time in politics. The creation of the 'America Party' looks like a loud statement, but it resembles a plot that America has seen many times before: a charismatic leader, criticism of the system, a promise of a new course — and the bureaucratic asphalt on which dozens before him have stalled. What will be the outcome of Musk's latest 'adventure in America'? Will it be a technological revolution or political déjà vu?
On July 4, when the American nation was invited to celebrate unity and 'the greatness of the American project,' the country received a new political experiment — the America Party, the political offspring of Elon Musk. The announcement came just days after Trump signed a bulky and controversial reform package called 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' which, according to Musk, 'is only beautiful in its rapid debt accumulation.'
Musk has long flirted with politics. His statements on free speech, criticism of the left agenda, sympathies for certain Trump measures — all of this seemed no more than a position of an influential billionaire. But this time he took a step forward: publicly clashed with the sitting president and immediately presented an alternative — his own platform.
'I cannot support a law that makes America a hostage to debt for the sake of short-term popularity,' Musk wrote on X, commenting on the reform package, which, according to him, 'is written for show, not for the future.'
The bill promoted by Trump as 'historic' includes massive tax subsidies, infrastructure spending, industrial support, and deregulation. All of this is aimed at a new industrialization. However, according to several experts, including Musk, the reform will cost the federal budget another $3.5 trillion over the next decade.
So what is the America Party? So far, Musk's new party looks like a manifesto of three points published on the project's website:
Fiscal realism,
Technological leadership,
Civil liberties in the digital age.
Formally, the party does not position itself as oppositional to either the Republicans or the Democrats. Musk says: 'This is not a third force. This is the first normal one.' But essentially, the 'America Party' is a challenge to Trump's Republicans, who, according to Musk, have betrayed their own promises of a 'healthy economy' for the sake of electoral populism.
It is important to emphasize: Musk has not declared himself a candidate, but hinted that 'the future requires new people, not old slogans.' And in this context, the creation of the party is not just a gesture. It is political infrastructure in case he decides to transition from tweets to ballots. It is worth reminding that in U.S. history, there have been several attempts to break the two-party system. Theodore Roosevelt's Party ('Progressive', 1912), Ralph Nader's movement, Ross Perot's campaign — each time it was about a 'third way,' about independence from the system. Each time it ended the same way: a loud start, public resonance — and gradual dissolution in the reality of electoral mathematics.
The system where the winner takes all is literally built into the American political architecture. Therefore, Musk, like those before him, will have to answer the main question: how to overcome not only the Republicans and Democrats, but also the rules of the game themselves?
Moreover, it seems Musk has yet to learn from his previous foray into power. Over the past few years, he has managed to turn Twitter (now X) into a political platform but has not gained the necessary 'political muscle' — experience in working with Congress, understanding the internal bureaucracy of the White House, decision-making mechanisms. Governance is not agile management, and no administration is run like a startup. Musk, accustomed to a vertical management structure and the speed of private capital, may lack the patience and allies to turn ideas into real reforms. And even if he makes it to the Oval Office, the Washington bureaucracy with its impenetrable committees, departmental circles of influence, and inertia may simply 'zero him out' — as it has done to many before him. To manage the system, one needs not only charisma and capital but also a deep understanding of its internal codes. Musk is still playing by his own rules.
On top of everything, there is a conflict with the sitting POTUS Donald Trump. Until recently, many viewed Musk and Trump as situational allies. They were united by criticism of the Democrats, anti-globalism, and the fight against censorship. But everything changed when money became more important than words. Musk believes that America cannot afford another wave of uncontrolled government spending. He accuses Trump of betraying the principles of entrepreneurial America, of substituting reform with television rhetoric.
Trump, in turn, called Musk an 'ungrateful technocrat' who 'made billions on government contracts and is now playing morality.' He added in his style: 'If it weren't for me, he wouldn't even have a rocket to escape this country.'
The emergence of the America Party could shake up the established picture. Musk has the potential to attract young independent voters disillusioned with both Biden and Trump. But whether he can build a sustainable movement is an open question. It seems the U.S. is tired of the 'either-or' system. Musk offers 'and-and': both technology and budget discipline; both freedom and strength. But whether he can turn this 'and' into an electoral victory depends on whether he is willing to go all the way. The tussle between the eccentric billionaire and the pragmatic nationalist promises to be long and noisy. But one thing is already clear: Elon Musk is no longer just a player in Silicon Valley. He has entered a game where the stakes are quite high.