Washington, June 7 (H.S.): Elon Musk, former associate of Donald Trump, has entertained the idea of forming his own political party amid his deteriorating relationship with the former president. On Thursday, Musk suggested the concept on social media, posting a poll for his 220 million followers regarding the need for a new political party in America, aiming to represent the centrist 80%. He reported that 80% of respondents supported the idea, declaring it as his destiny the next day. Musk considered naming the party the America Party, reminiscent of his previous political action committee, America PAC, through which he contributed $239 million to support Trump and Republican candidates.
However, establishing a new political party is a complex challenge due to existing ballot access of the two main parties and larger third parties across states. Any new party would need to navigate intricate state-specific regulations to qualify candidates for elections. While Musk’s wealth allows him to invest significantly in political causes, formal party contributions face Federal Election Commission limits, restricting donations to below $1 million. As it stands, his seriousness about breaking away from the Republican Party remains uncertain, but this potential move could further intensify his conflict with Trump.
Musk’s intentions regarding a break with the Republican Party remain uncertain. He acknowledged a comment suggesting greater impact could be achieved through GOP primaries but entertained the idea of reforming a major party from within rather than establishing a third party.
Despite previously indicating a reduction in political contributions, Musk’s remarks hint at continued political involvement, possibly to challenge Trump’s influence. Recently, he criticized Trump’s supported One Big Beautiful Bill Act, labeling it a disgusting abomination and urging a no vote. This sparked an exchange between them, with Trump threatening to withdraw subsidies benefiting Musk’s companies and Musk asserting Trump’s ingratitude for financial support to his 2024 campaign. Musk’s engagement comes at a pivotal moment for the GOP, with a domestic policy bill narrowly having passed the House but facing potential Senate amendments. He urged congressional Republicans to consider their positions carefully, highlighting the difference in their timelines: Trump has 3.5 years left as President, but I will be around for 40+ years, suggesting he intends to maintain a long-term presence in politics.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
