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| Musk has yet to take key steps to establish a new party, and he gave millions to the GOP just days before his big announcement in July. Robin Legrand/AFP via Getty Images |
Elon Musk declared on July 5 that he would launch a new political party, the America Party, in response to the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill” and the results of an online poll. But more than a month later, there’s been no visible progress and no public mention of the plan in weeks.
Instead, Musk has remained an active donor to Republican causes, even while engaging in a very public feud with President Donald Trump. The world’s richest man, known for going into “founder mode” on projects he’s passionate about, has yet to bring that level of energy to building a third party.
From Announcement to Silence
On the day he announced the America Party, Musk received public encouragement from Mark Cuban and a warning from the Democratic Party’s chair, who said the effort should be “taken seriously.” Yet since then, Musk has not filed any paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), taken steps to get on state ballots, or recruited candidates for the 2026 House and Senate races.
While multiple polls show Americans are broadly open to a viable third party, far fewer say they would support one founded by Musk. In the meantime, one of his top aides at both DOGE and xAI has left to start a podcast, and Musk’s political donations suggest he’s still aligned with the GOP.
Millions Still Flowing to Republican PACs
According to campaign finance filings released in late July, Musk donated $15 million to Republican super PACs on June 27 just days before he announced his America Party plan.
The contributions included:
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$5 million to MAGA Inc, supporting Trump’s presidential campaign.
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$5 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, backing GOP senators and candidates.
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$5 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund, supporting Republican House members.
These donations came weeks after Musk first floated the third-party idea on June 5, when he asked his followers on X:
“Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?”
The Uphill Battle of Building a Political Party
Launching a new party in the United States requires significant resources, time, and organization. The process involves:
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Filing official paperwork with the FEC.
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Collecting thousands of signatures to qualify for state ballots.
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Recruiting candidates for upcoming elections.
So far, there is no sign Musk has undertaken these steps. When asked for comment, Musk did not respond.
Founder Mode But Not Yet for Politics
Musk has a history of going “all in” on ventures he prioritizes. At Tesla and SpaceX, he’s known for marathon work schedules and sleeping at the office. When he acquired Twitter (now X), he personally led its overhaul. He also went all-in on supporting Trump during the 2024 campaign, and previously gave DOGE his full attention before stepping back in April.
If Musk applies that same intensity to building the America Party, the political landscape could shift dramatically. But for now, the initiative appears stalled.
As of August 2025, the America Party remains an idea not an active political force. Whether Musk will return to it with his trademark “founder mode” remains an open question.
