Elon Musk has decided not to create his own political party because of the campaign of US Vice President J.D. Vance and other White House officials, The Washington Post (WP) reported, citing its sources.
Vance has approached Musk directly and through the entrepreneur's allies. In particular, the vice president has lobbied lawmakers to support the candidacy of Musk's business partner, billionaire Jared Isaacman, for the head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). On December 17, the US Senate confirmed Isaacman, President Donald Trump's nominee to head NASA, which funds, among other things, SpaceX, a space exploration company led by Elon Musk.
Vance and his entourage had feared the political influence that the entrepreneur could exert through his considerable economic resources, as well as through X, ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections. In December, Axios reported that Musk had begun funding Republican Party campaigns ahead of the election.
In June, Trump and Musk exchanged sharp words on social media. The businessman claims that without his support, Trump would not have won the November 2024 elections, supported the idea of impeaching Trump, criticized the White House-sponsored austerity bill and the president's import tariffs, and predicted a recession for the US economy in the second half of 2025. Trump, in turn, claims that Musk did not conscientiously fulfill his duties while leading the Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and is crazy. The president threatened to terminate government contracts with Musk's companies, including SpaceX, and cancel all subsidies.
On July 5, Musk announced that he would create a political party based on the results of the X vote. The businessman announced the goal of creating the party to “return freedom“. Previously, he noted that modern Americans “live in a one-party state“ and the country needs a platform “that will truly care about the people“.
On August 20, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing sources, reported that Musk had suspended the creation of a new political party in order to focus on business and avoid taking votes away from the Republican Party. One of the key factors in the billionaire's decision, according to the WSJ, is his desire to maintain good relations with Vance. Musk, the newspaper's sources note, is considering providing financial support to the US vice president if he decides to run for president in 2028.