Donald Trump went scorched-earth on Elon Musk Sunday night, calling the billionaire a “train wreck” who’s “gone completely off the rails” after Musk floated plans to launch his own political party.
In a furious post on Truth Social, Trump attacked Musk’s idea for an “America Party” and mocked the very concept of third parties in U.S. politics. “He even wants to start a Third Political Party, despite the fact that they have never succeeded in the United States,” Trump wrote. “The System seems not designed for them.”
Trump, once happy to call Musk an ally, is now blasting him publicly. “I was saddened to see Elon go completely ‘off the rails,’” Trump said, before declaring Musk is “essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK.”
This latest blowup comes after Musk, on his own platform X, floated the idea of forming a new political party. After receiving support from followers, he declared, “You want a new political party and you shall have it.” But by Sunday, he walked it back slightly, saying reports of official filings were false: “This filing is false and has been reported as such to the FEC.”
Trump was quick to suggest why Musk might be picking a fight: revenge over the Republican-backed spending bill, which stripped key tax breaks for electric vehicles. Trump wrote, “It is a Great Bill but, unfortunately for Elon, it eliminates the ridiculous Electric Vehicle (EV) Mandate,” claiming it gives people freedom to choose gas, hybrid, or electric vehicles without being forced into anything.
Trump also spilled personal grievances, saying Musk once “gave me his total and unquestioned Endorsement,” but is now backpedaling. “I asked him whether or not he knew that I was going to terminate the EV Mandate… He said he had no problems with that—I was very surprised!”
Trump claimed Musk had also tried to get a close friend appointed to run NASA, but Trump balked after learning the man was a Democrat. “My Number One charge is to protect the American Public!” Trump declared.
Speaking to reporters Sunday, Trump doubled down, calling Musk’s third party idea “ridiculous.” “It’s always been a two-party system… third parties never work,” he said. “So he can have fun with it but I think it’s ridiculous.”
Musk didn’t take the attacks quietly. He trolled Trump directly on X, replying to a post about Trump’s rant with, “What’s Truth Social? Never heard of it.”
When someone suggested Trump’s post showed fear, Musk replied, “Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.”
Musk also backed up claims that he was more upset about federal spending than EV mandates. Replying to a post by YouTuber Dave Lee, Musk co-signed the criticism: “Someone close to the President ought to tell him the truth. Elon isn’t mad about the EV mandate. He’s upset about $5 trillion being added to the federal debt…”
Musk then added: “What the heck was the point of DOGE if he’s just going to increase the debt by $5 trillion??”
Musk also wrote: “The America Party is needed to fight the Republican/Democrat Uniparty.”
