Elon Musk, upset with Trump, has formed the 'America Party'. He is talking about ending the two-party system and restoring democracy. Like Ross Perot, Musk now aims to become a third force.
America: Elon Musk has announced the formation of a new political party to challenge America's two-party political system. He has named this party the 'America Party' and stated that it is created to save democracy in the country and restore people's freedom.
Distance from Trump and a New Beginning
Elon Musk was considered close to Donald Trump until recently. He had even provided the most funding for Trump's 2024 election campaign and also held the leadership of DOGE, an agency that monitors government spending. However, disagreements grew between the two regarding Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill.' Musk cited the bill as a cause for increasing the federal deficit, while Trump considered it beneficial for the country.
Musk's anger flared up again after Trump signed the bill, and he announced the formation of the America Party. He claims that America no longer resembles a democratic country and that he wants to bring back transparency and freedom in politics.
Trump calls it a ridiculous move
Donald Trump reacted sharply to Musk's new party. He stated that America has always had a two-party system and that the idea of a third party will only create confusion. According to Trump, third parties have never been successful, and the same fate awaits the America Party.
The example of Ross Perot resurfaces
With Elon Musk's party announcement, the name of another American billionaire, Henry Ross Perot, has come into discussion. Perot ran as an independent candidate in the 1992 presidential election and later founded the 'Reform Party.' He received 19% of the popular vote in 1992, but due to America's election system, he did not receive any Electoral College votes.
Ross Perot's Political Journey
Henry Ross Perot's name is among the few who have seriously challenged the American presidential election without any political background. In 1992, he said that he wanted to become the voice of the common people. His main agenda was to control the federal budget and prevent outsourcing of jobs.
Perot's clear and straightforward style made him popular among the public. His famous statement was, "If you see a snake, you should kill it, not appoint a committee to study it." This behavior distinguished him from other leaders.
The Struggle of a Third Party
Although Perot succeeded in getting 19% of the votes in 1992, he could not become number one in any state. As a result, he did not receive any Electoral College votes and could not become president. Some analysts believe that his presence caused Republican candidate George H. W. Bush to face defeat.
Perot ran for election again in 1996, but this time he received only 8% of the votes. He was not even invited to the debates because the organizers said he did not have enough public support. After this, his political strength gradually began to wane. By 2000, the Reform Party had almost disintegrated, and Perot withdrew from politics. He passed away in July 2019 at the age of 89.
Elon Musk faces the same challenges that Perot experienced. It is extremely difficult to create space for a third party in American politics. Several obstacles arise, such as the electoral system, media coverage, funding, and public support.
