...Presidential candidate and Vice-President Kamala Harris had indicated during
the campaign the very same thing even as the Trump-Musk bromance was in full swing,
but it did not become a topic of public debate - which we had said even earlier
that he is the world's richest man because of the Federal funds and subsidies
he is enjoying vis-a-vis SpaceX which does not produce money and Tesla which
sells on subsidies. Musk knew the consequences very well at that time and he himself
had predicted that if she wins he would be behind bars.
In fact, Trump had created his Frankenstein Monster when in his first term
he lavished huge subsidies on Musk towards Tesla tax credit which helped him
grow global.
And the Americans were also indifferent when all through the campaign he
was dancing like a dog at circus shows drugged by ketamine, and that too shoulder
to shoulder with the Old Trump. Now The New Trump has proved he has no permanent
friends, he could afford to have none either, because American politics is not
designed by vote banks that is the father and mother of Indian polity as we
see for over seven decades.
Apparently what began as a minor disagreement has now escalated into something
far more serious and consequential. The gloves are off but Musk has no ground
to stand. Because as a bad businessman he is self-seeking.
It's now more than a spat: Trump threatened to shut Musk's business and
deport him back to Africa. Trump is a guy who has nothing to lose. He knows
that and therefore he is aggressive. Charging like a bull, his aggression defies
all that behavioural scientists can diagnose!
WASHINGTON, July 5: The Trump–Musk bromance has come to its logical conclusion.
Tesla man Elon Musk has announced the formation of a new political entity—the
“America Party”—marking a definitive break from his former buddy and President
Donald The New Trump amounting to a declaration of war! Musk has vowed to disrupt
American politics with his money and clout to pay back Trump as the new Bill
gutted Tesla subsidies and threatened his empire.
The blood feud followed weeks of public spat culminating in the full-blown
divorce of a marriage of convenience that can disturb the prevailing political
equilibrium at least for now.
The honeymoon had ended abruptly weeks ago when Trump introduced the 'Big Beautiful
Bill'. Meanwhile, the anti-Tesla protests emboldened Trump to hit back at Musk
for his attack on the Bill.
The fallout between Trump and Musk took a new turn on Tuesday. Trump said the
DOGE should take a look at subsidies Musk companies have received in order to
save Government money. The comments followed Musk's repeated criticism of Trump's
'Beautiful Bill'.
Trump had earlier also threatenred to cut his subsidies and order an inquiry
into his business, including SpaceX; but Musk challenged him to do it.
On Monday, seeing that Trump's controversial spending 'Big Beautiful Bill',
already voted by the House of Representatives, was going to be passed by the
Senate also, Musk revived his criticism of the legislation. The Bill scraps
subsidies for electric vehicle purchases. Musk's Tesla is a major EV manufacturer.
He threatened to form a new ‘America Party’ if the Bill, which he claimed
would increase US deficit by $3.3tn, is passed. “Time for a new political party
that actually cares about the people,” he wrote on X. He also vowed to unseat
lawmakers who support the Bill.
That Bill was later passed by the Senate on Tuesday and cleared by the House
on Thursday.
The DOGE rampage and Tesla protest
Musk had contruibuted $300 muillion for Trump's campaign and and was instrumental
in the creation of Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As the head of
the DOGE, Musk was like a bull in a china shop, demolishing Federal agencies
and slashing staff in thousands at random. His blitzkrieg on bureaucracy spelt
the beginning of his end. Critics called it vandalism. Consequently, violent
protests against his Tesla spread across America, burning them at several showeooms.
Thereafter he withrew from DOGE.
This volatile situation could have emboldened Trump to go hammer and tongs
on Musk when he began attacking Trump's favourite child: 'The One Big Beautiful
Bil Act'.
Musk's protest was apparently against the Bill spending more and raising the
debt. But in reality it was because the Bill would stop subsidies for electric
cars and that would stop Musk business. Tesla thrives on subsidies and tax cuts.
The feud turned vicious. Musk claimed that Trump’s name was included in the
Government’s so-called Epstein files. A week after the peak of that feud, Musk
said he regretted some of his posts.
When 'The One Big Beautiful Bill Act' passed Congress
Musk had softened his tone about Trump and the Bill. Last weekend it got reignited
again as Musk saw the BIll would be passed. He threatened the Congressmen supporting
the Bill that he would see to it they do not get elected next time and that
he is launching a new Party called The American Party. On Tuesday the Senate
passed the Bill and Trump wrote on his Truth Social and also told reporters
he would set DOGE after Musk and possibly shut his business that included SpaceX,
besides considering deportation. Trump said nobody on earth ever got so much
of Government subsidies as Musk.
On Thursday the House finally cleared the Bill by a margin of 218 to 214 in
favour on Thursday following minority leader Hakeem Jeffries' record-breaking
speech exercising a privilege known as the “magic minute", starting at 4:53
am local time (8:53 GMT) and ending past 1:39 pm (17:39 GMT). All 212 Democratic
members of the House opposed the Bill. They were joined by Republican rebels
Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.
Trump signed it as he celebrated the Independence Day the next day, called the
Fourth of July.
The Birth of the 'America Party' and what it can do
On July 4, Musk posted a poll on his social platform X (formerly Twitter),
asking followers whether he should form a new political party. With over 65%
voting “yes,” Musk declared the formation of the “America Party” the next day.
“By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it,”
Musk wrote. “When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we
live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed
to give you back your freedom”.
Observers say Musk’s strategy is to target 2–3 Senate seats and 8–10 House
races in swing States, aiming to disrupt the entrenched two-party system with
“extremely concentrated force,” referencing the ancient Battle of Leuctra as
inspiration.
Can Musk run for President? No. Musk is constitutionally barred from
seeking the presidency due to his South African birth. Article II, Section 1
of the US Constitution requires presidential candidates to be natural-born citizens.
Analysis: While the America Party’s acceptability remains uncertain,
Musk’s present wealth and social media control could definitely disrupt the
2026 midterms and that is the only plan he could, was able to, chalk out. That
is, he can play spoilsport for the current political equilibrium. But not beyond
that because his business model fundamentally dictates dependency on Government.
As one quipped, “This isn’t just a breakup - It’s the fall of an empire." It was inevitable!