Elon Musk is now reportedly reconsidering plans to build a new political party, opting instead to deepen his relationship with Vice President J.D. Vance, whom he views as a natural successor to President Donald J. Trump and the “MAGA” movement.
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive is “quietly pumping the brakes” on launching what he dubbed the “America Party.” The effort was first teased on July 5 after users on his platform, X, voted in favor of the idea in an informal online poll.
But early enthusiasm online did not translate into wider political momentum. Traditional survey data suggested the venture would struggle to gain traction.
CNN’s polling analyst Harry Enten dismissed the America Party as “dead on arrival,” citing network data showing Mr. Musk’s approval rating had plummeted by 55 points over just four months.
The Journal further reported that Mr. Musk had not been able to attract “any prominent individuals who have voiced support for the idea of a new party or could be a crucial resource to help it get off the ground.”
Without heavyweight political or financial allies willing to join the venture, the effort appears to have stalled.
Instead, attention has shifted to Mr. Musk’s growing alignment with Vice President Vance, a Republican whom Mr. Musk sees as the likely “heir to the MAGA throne.”
Mr. Musk has “stayed in touch with Vance in recent weeks,” according to the Journal, and has privately acknowledged that forming a new party could damage that relationship.
For Mr. Musk, the calculation appears straightforward: strengthening the populist Republican coalition that brought Mr. Trump and Mr. Vance to power may prove a more effective use of his influence than dividing it. “Musk and his associates have told people close to him that he is considering using some of his vast financial resources to back Vance if he decides to run for president in 2028,” the Journal reported.
Such backing could be formidable. In 2024, Mr. Musk spent nearly $300 million to support Mr. Trump and other Republican candidates, underscoring his willingness to invest heavily in politics when he believes the stakes demand it.
While critics on the left have seized on polls to question the tech executive’s popularity, conservatives note that mainstream political institutions and media outlets have long underestimated the power of outsider movements.
Mr. Musk’s decision to shelve the America Party may reflect less a retreat than a recognition of where his influence can matter most: behind a viable candidate with a proven political base.
Whether Mr. Vance ultimately decides to seek the presidency in 2028 remains to be seen. But the Journal’s reporting suggests that one of the world’s wealthiest men is prepared to play a central role in that future campaign.
For now, Mr. Musk’s political ambitions appear increasingly tied not to building a new movement from scratch, but to sustaining the one already reshaping the Republican Party.
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