Elon Musk has shifted his political ambitions from creating a new third party to financially supporting Vice President JD Vance in a potential 2028 presidential bid.
According to a Daily Mail Online report, the Tesla founder is backing away from his earlier promise to upend U.S. politics with an independent group after a rocky period working alongside President Donald Trump. This change comes as Musk aims to refocus on his businesses while avoiding conflicts with key Republicans who view Vance as the natural heir to Trump's influence.
Musk previously spent nearly $300 million to help elect Trump in 2024, but their partnership ended in a public fallout earlier this year when Musk posted on X that Trump appeared in the Epstein files. With Trump now term-limited as president, Musk is eyeing a similar level of financial investment in Vance's expected campaign, joining other tech leaders in rallying behind the vice president.
Recent polls position Vance as the clear front-runner for the 2028 Republican nomination, prompting Musk to engage in conversations with him over the past few weeks. Musk believes launching his proposed America Party for the 2026 midterms could harm this emerging relationship and disrupt his political influence within established channels.
The America Party idea stemmed from a July 4 online poll Musk conducted on X, where 65.4 percent of respondents favored creating a new political entity to combat what he described as waste and graft in a one-party system. Musk announced the party's formation that day, proclaiming it would restore freedom, but sources indicate no foundational work, like ballot access or a supporter organization, has occurred.
Billionaire Mark Cuban, who initially endorsed Musk's third-party effort, reports hearing nothing about progress, a sentiment shared by others eager to collaborate. Libertarian National Committee Chair Steven Nekhaila described the situation as an "eerie silence," noting no activity at state or grassroots levels despite attempts to partner with Musk.
Musk would align with prominent tech figures already supporting Vance, including Palantir CEO Peter Thiel, former PayPal COO David Sacks, Roku CEO Anthony Wood, and entrepreneur Palmer Luckey. These backers see Vance, a former Ohio senator, as Trump's likely successor, especially given his recent actions signaling a 2028 run.
In June, Vance made a discreet visit to media mogul Rupert Murdoch's $280 million ranch in Montana, where he met with the 94-year-old, his son Lachlan Murdoch, and Fox News executives to discuss the Trump agenda. The meeting was brief, followed by a hike with Vance's wife, Usha, as arranged by Montana State Auditor James Brown, highlighting Vance's efforts to court influential media support.
Those close to Musk canceled a July meeting with third-party campaign organizers, citing his desire to prioritize business over political ventures. This decision reflects Musk's caution about alienating Republicans, even as he navigates the aftermath of his Trump fallout.
Musk's public dispute with Trump escalated earlier this year over Trump's proposed "one big beautiful bill," leading to mutual threats, including Trump's warnings to revoke billions in government contracts for Musk's companies like SpaceX, The Boring Company, xAI, and Neuralink. Trump also suggested deploying DOGE, the agency Musk once led, against him in a potential deportation scenario.
By July, tensions had eased, with Trump posting on Truth Social that he wanted Musk and his businesses to thrive, emphasizing that their success benefits the entire country. Trump clarified he had no intention of stripping subsidies, stating, "This is not so!" and affirming his support for all U.S. enterprises.
Vance expressed optimism about Musk rejoining Republican efforts, telling The Gateway Pundit, "So my hope is that by the time of the midterms, he’s kind of come back into the fold." This comment underscores Vance's strategy to integrate influential figures like Musk into the party's future without the disruption of a third-party challenge.
Elon Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla and former DOGE head, is redirecting his vast resources toward Vice President JD Vance, whom he views as President Donald Trump's political successor for the 2028 election. This pivot occurred after Musk's fallout with Trump and his decision to abandon the America First Party, driven by a desire to maintain ties with Republicans and focus on his companies amid a tumultuous political involvement.
The shift is happening primarily through recent discussions between Musk and Vance, with no specific location detailed beyond general U.S. political circles, as Musk seeks to avoid jeopardizing relationships by launching an independent party for the 2026 midterms.
Tech leaders like Peter Thiel and others are already backing Vance, motivated by polls showing him as the GOP front-runner and his moves, like the Montana meeting with Murdoch executives, to promote Trump's agenda.
