America Party: Trump slams Musk's political party as 'ridiculous'

Morristown: US President Donald Trump on Sunday dismissed Elon Musk’s new political party initiative as "ridiculous," intensifying his public feud with the billionaire entrepreneur who was once a close ally.

Trump criticised Musk's decision to launch the so-called America Party, calling the move unnecessary and confusing in a long-standing two-party system.

“I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party,” Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One. “Third parties have never worked. So he can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”

Musk announced the formation of the America Party on Saturday, claiming the US operates as a “one-party system” when it comes to fiscal policy. He vowed to oppose lawmakers who supported the president’s “big beautiful” spending bill, which he believes will drastically increase US debt.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who previously led Trump’s cost-cutting initiative known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), likened both Democrats and Republicans to fiscal extremists.

“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” Musk posted on X, the social media platform he owns.

Trump, still aboard Air Force One, doubled down on his criticism via Truth Social. “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks,” he wrote.

He warned that third parties bring “Complete and Total DISRUPTION & CHAOS,” adding, “We have enough of that with the Radical Left Democrats.”

Trump also accused Musk of turning against him due to changes in the spending bill that reduced subsidies for electric vehicles — a major blow to Musk’s Tesla business.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also took a jab at Musk during a CNN interview, implying that the billionaire should return his focus to business.

“I believe the boards of his companies want him to come back and run those companies, which he’s better at than anyone,” Bessent said. “I imagine they weren’t thrilled with this political announcement and would prefer he focus on his business, not politics.”

Musk resigned from DOGE in May to concentrate on his companies after Tesla's brand took a hit during his brief political involvement. Trump had given Musk a grand send-off, complete with a bizarre White House ceremony where Musk — sporting a black eye — received a symbolic golden key from the president.

But their relationship quickly soured. Days later, they were trading insults on social media after Musk criticised Trump’s fiscal policy.

When asked on Sunday if he would be asking Musk to return the golden key, Trump declined to comment.