US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Elon Musk's decision to launch a new political party, dismissing the idea as unnecessary and chaotic. On Sunday, Trump told reporters that forming a third party would “just add to confusion” and called the plan “ridiculous.”

Speaking before boarding Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey, Trump said, “I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party… He can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous. Third parties have never worked. He can have fun with it.”

Trump Slams Musk on Truth Social

Trump later took to his platform, Truth Social, to attack Musk more personally. In a strongly worded post, Trump claimed the billionaire had gone “completely off the rails” and compared him to a “train wreck.” He wrote: “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks. He even wants to start a Third Political Party, despite the fact that they have never succeeded in the United States – The System seems not designed for them. The one thing Third Parties are good for is the creation of Complete and Total DISRUPTION & CHAOS, and we have enough of that with the Radical Left Democrats, who have lost their confidence and their minds!”

Accusations of Favor-Seeking

Trump also accused Musk of trying to use personal connections for political favors. He claimed Musk had once asked him to appoint Jared Isaacman—a friend of Musk—as NASA administrator. That nomination was later withdrawn after Musk resigned from his unpaid advisory role in the government.

Trump's Allies Join the Criticism

Scott Bessent, Trump’s former treasury secretary, also weighed in. Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, he said Musk should focus on running his companies instead of trying to enter politics.

“So I believe the boards of his companies wanted him back to focus on running those businesses,” Bessent said. “I imagine those boards weren’t happy about his announcement yesterday and will urge him to stick to business, not politics.”

Musk's History in Government: Unpopular Moves and Fallout

Bessent also pointed out that Musk's brief leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency—nicknamed “Doge”—was unpopular. While its cost-cutting ideas gained attention, polls showed Musk himself was not well-liked among the public. During his time in government, Musk had pushed for large budget cuts and layoffs, which didn’t sit well with many voters.

Companies like Tesla reportedly suffered during this period, with declining sales and pressure from investors. Bessent said this likely pushed Musk’s company boards to demand his return to full-time corporate leadership.

Musk Fights Back, Launches 'America Party'

Despite the criticism, Musk went ahead with the launch of his new political movement, the America Party. He made the announcement on X, the social media platform he owns, posting multiple updates late Saturday and early Sunday.

He also fired back at Trump, accusing him of financial mismanagement. Musk claimed Trump “bankrupted” the country by passing a huge tax-and-spending bill.

A Political Rift Deepens

Once considered political allies, Musk and Trump are now publicly clashing. Trump has made it clear he sees Musk’s new party as disruptive and doomed, while Musk paints Trump as part of the problem.

As the 2024 campaign season heats up, their feud adds a new layer of drama to the U.S. political landscape. Whether Musk’s America Party gains traction or fizzles out, it’s already shaking up the conversation.