CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings cautioned Elon Musk on Sunday that the launch of his new political party — the “America Party” — could splinter conservative voters and ultimately benefit Democrats in upcoming elections.
Jennings made the comments during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash” following Musk’s announcement on X that he had officially created the new political entity.
Musk claimed the America Party would aim to restore “freedom” and appeal to voters dissatisfied with both major political parties.
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“It’s harder than it looks to start a political party,” Jennings said.
“And, you know, we’ll see where they go with it. My humble advice to Elon, who I admire very much, actually, is that you may be dividing the forces of people who want to save Western civilization to the benefit of the people who don’t.”
Jennings continued, “And so, to the extent that this effort would divide conservatives and Republicans against each other, that wouldn’t be helpful, because it would leave the country to people who want unfettered immigration, who don’t share your fiscal views, and so on and so forth.”
He added, “So, we’ll see where it goes. I sort of hope everybody puts the band back together the way they had it back in 2024, because when everybody was working together, things worked quite well.”
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Musk had previously floated the idea of starting a third party in a series of posts, often voicing frustration with both Democratic leadership and segments of the Republican Party.
His announcement followed the passage of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law on Friday.
Musk had expressed disapproval of GOP lawmakers’ backing of the legislation, which includes sweeping provisions on infrastructure, border enforcement, and energy policy.
Seeking to give voice to libertarians and disaffected fiscal conservatives, Musk began using his X platform to gauge support for a new movement.
It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!
Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 30, 2025
On Friday, he posted a poll asking users whether they wanted “independence from the two-party (some would say uniparty) system” through the creation of “the America Party.”
Nearly two-thirds of those who responded voted in favor.
Independence Day is the perfect time to ask if you want independence from the two-party (some would say uniparty) system!
Should we create the America Party?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 4, 2025
Based on that outcome, Musk announced the formation of the America Party the next day.
Despite the support from Musk’s online followers, political observers questioned the practicality and viability of the venture.
“Third parties are like honeybees — they sting and then they die,” Georgetown political historian Michael Kazin told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Several analysts noted that while Musk’s significant financial resources and public platform give him advantages not available to typical third-party founders, the structural barriers within the U.S. electoral system remain formidable.
These include state-by-state ballot access laws, debate qualifications, and voter skepticism toward candidates perceived as spoilers.
Musk has not yet announced specific policy positions, a leadership team, or candidates aligned with the America Party.
Nor has he indicated whether he intends to run for office under the party’s banner.
The development comes at a time when national polling consistently shows deep dissatisfaction with both major parties.
However, previous third-party efforts — including those by Ross Perot, Ralph Nader, and more recently, Andrew Yang’s Forward Party — have failed to gain lasting traction.
For now, it remains unclear how Musk’s America Party will impact the political landscape heading into future election cycles, including the 2026 midterms.
Critics argue it could drain support from Republican candidates, while supporters say it could provide a fresh alternative for voters alienated by the current system.
Trump: I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party. We have a tremendous success with the Republican party. The Democrats have lost their way, but it’s always been a two party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to the confusion. It really seems to have been… pic.twitter.com/YoF9AnTD41
— Grace Chong, MBI (@gc22gc) July 6, 2025
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