(BBC) Elon Musk has revealed that he is launching a new political party, just weeks after having a major disagreement with US President Donald Trump.
The billionaire shared on his social media platform X that he has created the America Party, which he describes as a challenge to the two-party system of Republicans and Democrats.
However, it is not clear if the party has been officially registered with US election officials. Since Musk was born outside the US, he cannot run for president, and he hasn’t mentioned who will lead the party.
He first suggested the idea of forming a party during his public conflict with Trump, which led him to leave his position in the administration and get into a heated argument with his former ally.
During that conflict, Musk conducted a poll on X asking people if they thought a new political party should be created in the US.
Referring to that poll in his post on Saturday, Musk stated: “By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!
“When it comes to wasting our country’s resources, we are living in a one-party system, not a democracy.
“Today, the America Party is created to give you back your freedom.”
As of Saturday, the Federal Electoral Commission had not released any documents showing that the party was officially registered.
While there have been notable figures outside the usual two-party system in US politics, it is challenging for them to gain enough national support to be a real threat.
In last year’s presidential election, candidates from the Libertarian Party, the Green Party, and the People’s Party all tried unsuccessfully to prevent Trump or his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, from winning.
Musk was a strong supporter of Trump until recently, even dancing with him at election rallies last year and bringing his four-year-old son to meet Trump in the Oval Office.
He was also a major financial supporter of Trump, spending $250 million (£187 million) to help him get back into office.
