Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has warned Elon Musk that the America Party he formed may harm Republicans’ chances in the midterm elections.
Musk announced his newly formed third party on Saturday after disagreeing with President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” that affected electric vehicle credit rollbacks and increased in the national debt, per The Hill. DeSantis talked about the new party at a press conference Monday.
“The problem is when you do another party, especially if you’re running on some of the issues that he talks about, you know, that would end up if he funds Senate candidates and House candidates in competitive races that would likely end up meaning the Democrats would win all the competitive Senate and House races,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis praised Musk for dealing with overspending when he worked with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). But he added the third political party is not needed.
“We do have a problem in the Republican Party with these D.C. congressmen. They always run saying there’s out-of-control spending, and they’re going to spend less, and they never do it…,” DeSantis said.
“I think there is a lot a frustration with the gap between the rhetoric in their district, and the performance once they get into D.C. But the way you do that is expose that in a primary and show that there’s another way forward,” he continued.
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Trump allies, such as Steve Bannon, have criticized Musk for competing against the Republican Party.
Musk, not to be deterred, said it’s time “for a new political party that actually cares about the people.”
Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party, said creating a third party is not as easy as it sounds.
“Many people have tried to build new political parties. Most have failed…,’ Mitchell, said.
“If Musk thinks he can wave a wand and a party appears, he’s in for a rude awakening,” he said.
