U.S. President Donald Trump has strongly criticized Elon Musk following the tech billionaire’s announcement of a new political party, calling the move reckless and damaging to the country’s political system.
In a Truth Social post published Sunday night, Trump described Musk as being “off the rails” and labeled his recent behavior as a “train wreck.” He warned that Musk’s proposed “America Party” would only create division among voters and introduce “disruption and chaos” into an already fragile political landscape.
“Third parties don’t work in the United States,” Trump wrote. “All they do is create instability – and we already have enough of that thanks to the Democrats.”
The president also defended his recently passed multitrillion-dollar spending plan, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, which Musk has openly criticized. Trump dismissed Musk’s opposition as self-serving, arguing that the billionaire is upset because the bill rolls back electric vehicle subsidies that benefit Musk’s companies.
Trump further accused Musk of attempting to use his influence to push a Democratic nominee for the leadership of NASA—something Trump said would have been a clear conflict of interest given Musk’s involvement in the space industry.
“My responsibility is to the American people, not to billionaires looking for favors,” Trump wrote.
Musk, who formally introduced his third-party initiative on Friday, said the America Party would challenge the existing political order and reclaim “freedom for the people.” He took aim at both Republicans and Democrats, accusing them of jointly driving the U.S. toward financial ruin.
Although Musk hasn’t provided full details on how the America Party will be structured, he hinted at an aggressive strategy aimed at disrupting the current two-party system during next year’s midterm elections.
Drawing a historical analogy, Musk said his political push would be modeled on the military tactics of Epaminondas, a Theban general known for breaking Spartan dominance through focused, strategic attacks.
Musk also pushed back against claims that his criticism is driven by lost subsidies, insisting his disapproval stems from the ballooning federal deficit—an issue he was tasked with addressing through his work at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era initiative created to cut unnecessary government spending.
The feud between the two prominent figures has continued to escalate, with Trump accusing Musk of receiving more taxpayer funds than anyone in history and even suggesting potential deportation to his native South Africa.
Their public fallout marks a dramatic shift in their relationship, which once appeared supportive but has since turned into a highly visible political clash.
