Trump thinks Musk's "American Party" is absurd, basically because he's afraid it will hit his own interests. Why say that?：
1、Stealing swing states is more painful than stealing money
The American political arena has always been a two-party show between the Republicans and Democrats. Third parties have always been just for show (look at how badly those small parties did before). Trump directly criticized "Third parties only cause chaos," which is actually out of fear that Musk might lure away the moderate Republicans. Especially in the 2026 midterm elections, with the current tight race for congressional seats, if the "American Party" intervenes in key districts, the Republicans could be in trouble. Trump now needs party unity the most, and Musk's move is like lighting a fire in his backyard.
2、Legislation conflicts ignite real anger
Why did Musk suddenly decide to form a party? The direct reason was the "Big and Beautiful" bill signed by Trump. This bill cut electric vehicle subsidies (which cost Tesla hundreds of millions), and also significantly increased military spending. Musk was so angry he called it "a plan to make the country go bankrupt." Trump wasn't polite either, retorting that Musk was just "jumping up because his wallet was touched," and subtly threatened to cut off government contracts for Tesla and SpaceX (which are multi-billion-dollar deals). The two went from good friends to enemies. Trump said Musk was "crazy," which actually means he's afraid that Musk will use his money and influence to oppose him.
3、NASA is a juicy prize everyone wants to bite
Trump specifically mentioned that Musk recommending Democrats to run NASA is "unreliable," because NASA is the big boss of SpaceX. Previously, Trump wanted to appoint his own people, but he was removed after being found too close to Musk. This is clearly two big shots fighting over control of space. If the "American Party" really enters Congress, Trump's space program will be even harder to manage.
4、Money makes you reckless, which is the scariest
Although third parties can't become influential, Musk has a lot of money and fans. He said he would fund Republican candidates who oppose the "Big and Beautiful" bill in the primaries, which is essentially openly undermining Trump. Trump is most afraid of someone rebelling within the party, and must suppress Musk's anger.
In the end, Trump calling Musk's actions "absurd" is actually out of fear that Musk will mess up the Republicans' plans and retaliate against his opposition to his bills. Their quarrel may seem like a difference in ideology (one wants to isolate the country, the other wants globalization), but in reality, it's just a battle for power and interests.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836949205132359/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.