Elon Musk has refuted a report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) suggesting he is stepping back from his plans to launch the America Party, which aims to challenge the two-party system in the United States. The report, published on Tuesday, claimed that Musk had told allies he would focus on his business ventures rather than risk alienating Republican voters with a third-party bid. In response, Musk took to his social media platform, X, to dismiss the WSJ’s claims, stating that “nothing WSJ says should ever be thought of as true.” His criticism of the media outlet underscores a long-standing feud between Musk and the publication, which he has previously accused of publishing “deliberately false” stories.
Musk’s relationship with the WSJ has been contentious, particularly following his support for former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. He briefly held the position of head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) before a public falling-out over Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” spending package. Despite this, Musk has continued to align with Trump’s political base, as evidenced by his recent ties with Vice President J.D. Vance, a potential successor to the former president. Reports suggest that Musk has been maintaining these connections and may consider using his resources to support Vance’s 2028 presidential bid.
The WSJ also noted that Musk has not formally ruled out forming a political party, with the possibility that he could change his mind as the midterm elections approach. In a tweet last month, Musk outlined a plan for the America Party to concentrate on Congress ahead of the 2026 midterms, stating that while “backing a candidate for president is not out of the question,” the party’s “focus for the next 12 months is on the House and the Senate.” This suggests that even if Musk is not moving forward with a presidential bid, the party may still have a role in shaping the political landscape.
Trump, who has been vocal in his criticism of Musk, recently called the billionaire a “train wreck” and argued that third parties “have never succeeded in the US,” predicting that Musk’s initiative would lead to “disruption and chaos.” This highlights the broader tension between Musk’s political ambitions and the established political power structures in the United States. Meanwhile, Musk’s stance on the WSJ reflects a larger pattern of distrust in mainstream media, a sentiment that has been a defining feature of his public persona.
Despite his public rebuke of the WSJ’s report, Musk’s actions and statements suggest that the America Party remains a genuine political endeavor. However, the media attention surrounding the report and Musk’s continued criticism of the WSJ indicate a complex interplay between media influence, political strategy, and public perception in the evolving landscape of American politics.