President Donald Trump expressed confidence that Elon Musk’s newly announced political party will not harm his electoral prospects. In fact, Trump said during a July 8 Cabinet meeting that he believes the emergence of the third party might even work in his favor.
“I think it will help us,” Trump told reporters. “Third parties have always been good for me. I don’t know about Republicans, but for me.”
Musk, a former Trump adviser turned vocal critic, launched “the American Party” on July 5 following his opposition to Trump’s sweeping tax and spending legislation, which Musk derided for increasing the national debt. Frustrated that his concerns did not sway Republican lawmakers, Musk declared his intention to challenge the dominance of both major parties, branding them the “Uniparty” and blaming them for the nation’s financial woes.
In past elections, third-party candidates have at times influenced outcomes. In the 2024 presidential race, Trump allies reportedly encouraged support for third-party figures like Jill Stein (Green Party), Cornel West, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (before he endorsed Trump) to draw votes away from then-Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.
While Musk is the world’s wealthiest individual, forming a viable third party capable of competing in national elections presents significant challenges. He would face a complex patchwork of ballot access laws in all 50 states ahead of the 2026 midterms and would need to recruit credible candidates. Additionally, the new party lacks a clear political platform, and Musk remains a polarizing figure across the political spectrum.
Historically, third parties have struggled to secure electoral success in the U.S. The Libertarian and Green parties have failed to win congressional seats in recent cycles, and no third-party presidential candidate has won a state since Ross Perot’s 1992 campaign, which earned 19% of the popular vote but no electoral victories.
