Elon Musk floated the idea of a new political party Thursday as his rapidly escalating feud with President Trump reached a tipping point — with the South Africa-born billionaire claiming that four out of five Americans are politically homeless.
The world’s richest man posted a poll on X asking followers whether they supported the idea of a new movement to take on the Republicans and Democrats.
“Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?” the poll asked.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as Elon Musk looks on in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025. APMore than 5.6 million votes were cast in the online ballot — with 80.4% agreeing a new party was needed.
Third parties have a limited history of success in modern American politics. In the past 100 years, the highest share of the popular vote won by a Democratic or Republican presidential candidate was Ross Perot of the Reform Party — who received 18.9% of ballots cast in 1992 without capturing a single state.
The poll was posted soon after Musk and Trump’s once-close relationship imploded, with the men hurling blistering attacks at each other.
Musk also encouraged Republicans torn over who to back to side with him.
“Oh and some food for thought as they ponder this question: Trump has 3.5 years left as President, but I will be around for 40+ years,” he wrote in one tweet.
The verbal punches erupted after Trump criticized Musk in the Oval Office on Thursday, telling reporters he was “very disappointed” in the Tesla founder for denouncing his sweeping tax-cut and spending bill.
Elon Musk shared the poll to his X followers on June 5, 2025. @elonmusk/XTrump posted on Truth Social that Musk had been “wearing thin,” that he had “asked him to leave” his administration and that the tech titan had “gone CRAZY.”
The president then threatened that he could save taxpayer money by canceling government contracts and subsidies for Musk’s companies.
Musk, for his part, fired back by expressing support for impeaching Trump and even accused the administration of withholding documents related to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein because the president would be mentioned.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” Musk post on X.
