Elon Musk’s surprise July 5 announcement of a new political party has shaken Washington’s political landscape and drawn a swift rebuke from President Donald Trump.

Musk launched the "America Party" following a viral poll calling for a break from the two-party system, prompting Trump to call the move confusing, unnecessary, and based on personal grievances, as Fox News reports.

On Saturday, Musk revealed the formation of the America Party via a post on his platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

He described the decision as necessary to counter a corrupt political system that he believes no longer reflects the will of the American people.

Musk claims mandate from viral online poll

The announcement came one day after Musk conducted a poll on X asking whether users wanted to break away from the current political structure. The poll drew more than 1.2 million responses, with over 65% voting yes.

Reacting to the outcome, Musk declared on July 5 that the America Party was formed “to give you back your freedom.”

He framed the move as part of a broader campaign against wasteful bipartisan decisions and entrenched lawmakers.

Rather than fielding a presidential candidate, the party plans to compete in select congressional races. Musk stated the goal is to build a swing bloc in Congress that can hold leverage over legislation coming from either major party.

Trump responds with sharp criticism

Trump reacted quickly during a press appearance in Bedminster, New Jersey, saying third parties “have never worked” and calling Musk’s plan “ridiculous.” He argued that the U.S. political system is fundamentally built for two dominant parties.

Speaking later on Truth Social, Trump accused Musk of going “off the rails” in recent weeks. He characterized third parties as a source of “disruption and chaos” and said Republicans offer more stable leadership.

Trump further claimed that Musk’s political pivot was partly driven by disappointment with recent legislation.

The $3.3 trillion package Trump signed on July 4 includes sweeping tax cuts, new infrastructure investments, and repeal of the federal electric vehicle mandate.

Policy disputes over electric vehicles emerge

The removal of the EV mandate was a core component of the new legislation. Trump stated this requirement would have forced Americans to purchase electric cars within a short timeframe, a policy he had consistently opposed.

According to Trump, he discussed this policy extensively during his campaign and said Musk appeared to have no issue with it at the time. Trump suggested it was unexpected that Musk, who endorsed him earlier, would now take issue with the change.

Trump also raised warnings about a potential conflict of interest. He said Musk had advocated for a close friend -- whom Trump described as a “blue-blooded Democrat” with commercial space ties -- to lead NASA, which Trump rejected on those grounds.

New party enters historically unfriendly territory

Political analysts have pointed out that third-party efforts consistently face challenges due to systemic barriers. These include the Electoral College, winner-take-all voting laws, and restrictive ballot access requirements.

Past examples such as Ross Perot’s 1992 campaign, and bids by Ralph Nader and Gary Johnson, gained national attention but failed to achieve lasting electoral success. Trump emphasized this point, maintaining that history shows such parties are unlikely to prevail.

For now, the America Party’s future remains uncertain. Its ability to disrupt the current landscape will depend on how well it navigates the entrenched structure that has historically limited outsider political movements in the United States.