Donald Trump rips into Elon Musk's party as relationship breaks down

Donald Trump has hit out at former ally Elon Musk's decision to start a new political party. The Space X founder had threatened in the lead up to the vote on Trump's controversial budget bill, that he would create a party if it passed a final vote, which he would then use to challenge all those who voted in favour.

Following the signing of the bill into law, he took to X to announce the creation of the America Party, which he claimed would offer an alternative to the Republican and Democratic "Uniparty". Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said: "I think it's ridiculous to start a third party. It's always been a two-party system and I think starting a third party just adds to the confusion."

The president also reacted on his social media platform Truth Social, where he accused the X owner of going "completely "off the rails"" and becoming a "train wreck."

He said: "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!"

Trump claimed that Musk's opposition to the bill was rooted in the fact that it will end tax breaks for electric vehicles.

He added: "It is a Great Bill but, unfortunately for Elon, it eliminates the ridiculous Electric Vehicle (EV) Mandate, which would have forced everyone to buy an Electric Car in a short period of time. I have been strongly opposed to that from the very beginning."

Musk has previously called the "big, beautiful" budget bill an "abomination" due to the estimated $3 trillion it is expected to add onto the country's government debt over ten years, a figure the White House denies.

The legislation includes increased spending for border security, defence and energy production but reduces access to medical provision for some of the country's poorest people whilst providing the uber-wealthy with significant tax breaks.