Overview

• Elon Musk on July 5 officially launched the America Party on X after an online poll indicated roughly two-to-one support for a third-party alternative.
• President Trump called the initiative “ridiculous,” arguing that a third party would simply add confusion to the U.S. political system.
• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis praised Musk’s spending critiques but warned that a new party could hand key Senate and House races to Democrats.
• Former Trump aide Hogan Gidley said the movement lacks a natural base among Republican or Democratic voters, predicting difficulty in building sustainable support.
• Key details remain unsettled on Federal Election Commission registration and state ballot petitions, including North Carolina’s signature and vote-share requirements for 2026 midterms.