start a new political party to compete with the Republican and Democratic parties. He sounds deeply frustrated with this historically dominant duopoly. The good news for him is that lots of Americans share his frustration.
Let’s also take seriously the question of whether Musk has the wherewithal (other than money, of which he has lots and lots) to pull off this feat in more than name only. Is it even possible to do what he says he’ll do? Lots of history, about Musk and about politics more broadly, would say, “Elon, save your money.”
Musk’s claim that he wants to start a new party is the latest iteration of his recent feud with President Donald Trump. What triggered their falling out, in part, was Musk’s attack on Trump’s prime legislative initiative, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” He called it “utterly insane and destructive.”
Musk hated the bill because it would balloon the national debt by at least $3 trillion. He said Congress should not pass it. Republicans ignored him and sent the measure to Trump for a July Fourth signing ceremony. So the scoreboard shows: Trump 1, Musk 0.
Public opinion agrees with Musk about the need for a third major political party. Gallup has done an annual survey on this question since 2003. Only once — that first year — did a majority say that the Republican and Democratic parties were doing an adequate job representing the American people.
Last October, 58 percent said the two parties “do such a poor job” representing people that a third major party was needed. That was slightly lower than in 2023 but in line with a two-decade trend.
For years, most self-identified independents have said a third major party is needed. Last year, it was 69 percent. Republicans and Democrats tend to be more optimistic about the two-party system when their party has the White House, but overall, they too generally say there is a need for another party.
