Is Musk Starting a New Political Party Amid Trump Feud?

Is Musk Starting a New Political Party Amid Trump Feud?

Elon Musk speaks during a Town Hall event at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on March 30, 2025. Credit - Joshua Lott—The Washington Post In an escalation ofElon Musk's fractured relationship with President Donald Trumpand his Republican allies, the Tesla CEO has floated the idea of starting a new political party to rival the two-party system. Muskconducted a pollvia his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), asking his 220 million followers: "Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?" The public results show that around 80% of respondents voted yes. "The people have spoken. A new political party is needed in America to represent the 80% in the middle!"Musk said,reacting to the results of his Thursday, June 5, poll. "And exactly 80% of people agree…This is Fate." On Friday, Musk shared a potential name: "The America Party." The moniker echoes that of his super political action committee (PAC), America PAC, which was founded in 2024 to support Trump's efforts to return to the White House. The super PAC reportedly spentaround $200 millionto help elect Trump. Musk's donations made him Trump's largest, and most prominent, donor in the 2024 election. Read More:5 Things To Watch As the Trump-Musk Meltdown Proceeds Meanwhile, when talking to NBC News on Saturday, Trump said that Musk will "have to pay the consequences" if he opts to fund Democratic candidates in light of their feud. The President declined to say what those consequences would be. "I'm not going to say, but he'll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that," Trump said. In 2016 and 2020, Muskvoted for Trump's Democratic opponents—Hillary Clinton and former President Joe Biden, respectively. But during the 2022 midterm elections, Musk said he intended to vote Republican, and that later developed into him becoming Trump's close ally, which was cemented when the President positioned him as lead of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE),a role he held until recently. However, Trump and Musk have nowhad an explosive fall-out,which has played out in the public arena via social media over the past few days. It started with Musk's disapproval over Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill," which he called an "abomination" andtold his social media followersto "call your Senator, call your Congressman… kill the bill." On Thursday, the back-and-forth between the two influential men escalated, with Musk alleging that Trump is listed in the files related to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "That is the real reason they have not been made public,"Musk said. He did not provide evidence pertaining to this and, as of early Saturday morning,the post has been deleted. Musk also,in another since-deleted X post, endorsed a message that said: "Trump should be impeached" and that Vance "should replace him." Trump has argued on his ownsocial media platform, Truth Social,that "Elon was wearing thin" and that he asked the Tesla CEO to leave the White House. Read More:Musk's Major Allegation Against Trump Disappears From Social Media: 'That Post Has Been Deleted' When talking to reporters aboard Air Force Oneon Friday night, Trump said he didn't have any plans to speak with Musk. But some lawmakers are convinced that the feud between Trump and Musk will soon thaw, and that the latter's idea for a new political party won't come to fruition. On Friday, RepublicanRep. Jimmy Patronis of Florida told NewsNation's Blake Burman: "Elon Musk is not gonna create a new political party... Trump knows that sometimes you're going to have [a] falling out with those that you trust, you like, that you're friends with. It happens with us in D.C. all the time. Mark my words, about a month from now, these guys will be hanging around again." Contact usatletters@time.com.

byMario Satorik

in

June 08, 2025

Is Musk Starting a New Political Party Amid Trump Feud?

Is Musk Starting a New Political Party Amid Trump Feud? Elon Musk speaks during a Town Hall event at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, ...

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Mike Johnson downplays Musk's influence and says Republicans will pass Trump's tax and budget bill

Mike Johnson downplays Musk's influence and says Republicans will pass Trump's tax and budget bill

With an uncharacteristically feistiness, SpeakerMike Johnsontook clear sides Sunday in PresidentDonald Trump'sbreakupwith mega-billionaireElon Musk. The Republican House leader and staunch Trump ally said Musk's criticism of the GOP's massivetax and budget policy billwill not derail the measure, and he downplayed Musk's influence over the GOP-controlled Congress. "I didn't go out to craft a piece of legislation to please the richest man in the world," Johnson said on ABC's "This Week." "What we're trying to do is help hardworking Americans who are trying to provide for their families and make ends meet," Johnson insisted. Johnson said he has exchanged text messages with Musk since the former chief of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency came out against the GOP bill. Musk called it an "abomination" that would add to U.S. debts and threaten economic stability. He urged voters to flood Capitol Hill with calls to vote against the measure, which is pending in the Senate after clearing the House. His criticism sparked anangry social media back-and-forthwith Trump, who told reporters over the weekend that he has no desire to repair his relationship with Musk. The speaker was dismissive of Musk's threats to finance opponents — even Democrats — of Republican members who back Trump's bill. "We've got almost no calls to the offices, any Republican member of Congress," Johnson said. "And I think that indicates that people are taking a wait and see attitude. Some who may be convinced by some of his arguments, but the rest understand: this is a very exciting piece of legislation." Johnson argued that Musk still believes "that our policies are better for human flourishing. They're better for the US economy. They're better for everything that he's involved in with his innovation and job creation and entrepreneurship." The speaker and other Republicans, including Trump's White House budget chief, continued their push back Sunday against forecasts that their tax and budget plans will add to annual deficits and thus balloon a national debt already climbing toward $40 trillion. Johnson insisted that Musk has bad information, and the speaker disputed the forecasts of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office that scores budget legislation. The bill would extend the 2017 Trump tax cuts, cut spending and reduce some other levies but also leave some 10.9 million more people without health insurance and spike deficits by $2.4 trillionover the decade, according to the CBO's analysis. The speaker countered with arguments Republicanshave made for decades: That lower taxes and spending cuts would spur economic growth that ensure deficits fall. Annual deficits and the overall debt actually climbed during the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, andduring Trump's first presidency, even after sweeping tax cuts. Russell Vought, who leads the White House Office of Budget and Management, said on Fox News Sunday that CBO analysts base their models of "artificial baselines." Because the 2017 tax law set the lower rates to expire, CBO's cost estimates, Vought argued, presuming a return to the higher rates before that law went into effect. Vought acknowledged CBO's charge from Congress is to analyze legislation and current law as it is written. But he said the office could issue additional analyses, implying it would be friendlier to GOP goals. Asked whether the White House would ask for alternative estimates, Vought again put the burden on CBO, repeating that congressional rules allow the office to publish more analysis. Other Republicans, meanwhile, approached the Trump-Musk battle cautiously. "As a former professional fighter, I learned a long time ago, don't get between two fighters," said Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin on CNN's "State of the Union." He even compared the two billionaire businessmen to a married couple. "President Trump is a friend of mine but I don't need to get, I can have friends that have disagreements," Mullin said. "My wife and I dearly love each other and every now and then, well actually quite often, sometimes she disagrees with me, but that doesn't mean that we can't stay focused on what's best for our family. Right now, there may be a disagreement but we're laser focused on what is best for the American people." —- Associated Press journalist Gary Fields contributed from Washington.

byMario Satorik

in

June 08, 2025

Mike Johnson downplays Musk's influence and says Republicans will pass Trump's tax and budget bill

Mike Johnson downplays Musk's influence and says Republicans will pass Trump's tax and budget bill With an uncharacteristically feis...

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Panthers D Aaron Ekblad (hand) participates in practice

Panthers D Aaron Ekblad (hand) participates in practice

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad participated in an optional practice session on Sunday morning, one day ahead of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Fla. Ekblad sustained an injured left hand after he was hit by a shot from Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse during the second overtime of Florida's 5-4 victory in Game 2 of the finals. Brad Marchand scored later in the session for the Panthers, who tied the best-of-seven series at one win apiece. Ekblad, 29, has recorded 11 points (three goals, eight assists) and averaged 23:58 of ice time in 15 playoff games. He totaled 33 points (three goals, 30 assists) in 56 games during the regular season. Florida made Ekblad the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, and he has spent his entire 11-year career with the franchise. He has 380 points (118 goals, 262 assists) in 732 career games. --Field Level Media

byMario Satorik

in

June 08, 2025

Panthers D Aaron Ekblad (hand) participates in practice

Panthers D Aaron Ekblad (hand) participates in practice Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad participated in an optional practice sessio...

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You are more likely to be struck by lightning than the Pacers were to win their playoff comebacks

You are more likely to be struck by lightning than the Pacers were to win their playoff comebacks

When the Indiana Pacers trailed the Oklahoma City Thunder by 9 points with 2 minutes and 52 seconds left in Game 1 of the NBA Finals,ESPN's win probability modelgave the Pacers only a 3.6% chance to win. Not only did the Pacers overcome that deficitto win 111-110 and take a 1-0 lead in the series, that wasn't even Indiana's most improbable comeback this postseason. The Pacers have become the masters of the come-from-behind victory in the 2025 playoffs, pulling off at least one miracle in each round. In Game 5 of the conference quarterfinals, Indiana overcame a 7-point deficit against the Milwaukee Bucks in the final 39 seconds of overtime — when the Pacers' odds of winning were only 2.1% — and won 119-118. In Game 2 of the conference semifinals, Indiana had only a 4.1% chance of winning when it trailed the Cleveland Cavaliers by 7 with 57.1 seconds to go, but the Pacers ultimately won 120-119. And in Game 1 of the conference finals, Indiana pulled off anever-before-seen comebackagainst the New York Knicks, rallying from 14 points down with 2 minutes and 51 seconds to go in the fourth quarter before winning 138-135 in overtime — the odds of which were 0.3%. While winning even one of these games was a highly improbable task for the Pacers, winning all four wasextremelyunlikely. How unlikely, exactly? Well, you'd have a better chance of being struck by lightning, for starters. Here's how the Pacers' four biggest comebacks stack up against some other rare events.

byMario Satorik

in

June 08, 2025

You are more likely to be struck by lightning than the Pacers were to win their playoff comebacks

You are more likely to be struck by lightning than the Pacers were to win their playoff comebacks When the Indiana Pacers trailed the Oklaho...

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ABC News correspondent suspended after tweet calling Trump 'a world class hater'

ABC News correspondent suspended after tweet calling Trump 'a world class hater'

Veteran ABC News correspondent Terry Moran was suspended Sunday after he posted a harsh criticism of the Trump White House on X. Moran, 65, took aim Saturday at President Trump and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who has been outspoken in his desire to see a step up in the deportation of undocumented migrants. "Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred. He's a world-class hater," Moran wrote his post, which has been deleted. "You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate." He also described Miller as "vile." Moran went on to call Trump "a world class hater" adding, "but his hatred only a means to an end and that end is his own glorification. That's his spiritual nourishment." Moran, whose title is senior national correspondent, has been an ABC News journalist since 1999 and is not a commentator. He conducted an Oval Office interview with Trump in April to discuss the first 100 days of the president's second term. In a statement, an ABC News representative said Moran's statements violated the division's policy. "ABC News stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage and does not condone subjective personal attacks on others," the representative said. "The post does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards — as a result, Terry Moran has been suspended pending further evaluation." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ripped Moran and called for action by ABC when the journalist's post was raised during an interview Sunday on Fox News. "This is unacceptable and unhinged rhetoric coming from someone who works at a major television network," Leavitt said. "We have reached out to ABC, they have said they will be taking action, so we will see what they do. But I think this speaks to the distrust the American public have in the legacy media." The rapid suspension by ABC News demonstrateshow networks are on edgeover their news organizations antagonizing the Trump White House, which has shown a willingness to extract revenge on its critics. Read more:The network evening news is in flux: Why an American TV institution is under pressure Trump has asked Congress to cut off federal funding from public media outlets PBS and NPR,calling their programming "left wing propaganda." Trump is suing CBS News over a "60 Minutes" interview last October that he claims was deceptively edited to help his 2024 election opponent Vice President Kamala Harris. The suit —an obstacle to CBS parent Paramount Global's dealto merge with Skydance Media — has gone to a mediator. ABC Newspaid $15 million to settle a lawsuit Trumpfiled over statements by "Good Morning America" co-host George Stephanopoulos, who incorrectly said on air that the president had been liable of rape, when it was sexual abuse. Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Bob Iger has asked that ABC's "The View" spend less time talking about Trump, who typically leads the daytime talk show's hot topics segment. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared inLos Angeles Times.

byMario Satorik

in

June 08, 2025

ABC News correspondent suspended after tweet calling Trump 'a world class hater'

ABC News correspondent suspended after tweet calling Trump 'a world class hater' Veteran ABC News correspondent Terry Moran was susp...

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Johnson: Trump did 'exactly what he needed to do' in sending National Guard to LA

Johnson: Trump did 'exactly what he needed to do' in sending National Guard to LA

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he is "not concerned at all" over President Donald Trump's order to send 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to quell immigration protests that have resulted in clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. "I think the president did exactly what he needed to do," Johnson told ABC News' "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl on Sunday. "These are federal laws and we have to maintain the rule of law. And that is not what is happening. [California Gov.] Gavin Newsom has shown an inability or unwillingness to do what is necessary there." "That is real leadership, and he has the authority and the responsibility to do it," the speaker said, defending Trump's decision. California officials have said deploying the National Guard is unnecessary. Newsom said the move was "purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions." "The federal government is sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate. That is not the way any civilized country behaves," the governor posted on X. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Saturday that active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will be mobilized "if violence continues." Asked about Hegseth's comments, Johnson said, "One of our core principles is maintaining peace through strength. We do that on foreign affairs and domestic affairs as well. I don't think that's heavy-handed." "You don't think sending Marines into the streets of an American city is heavy-handed?" Karl pressed. "We have to be prepared to do what is necessary, and I think the notice that that might happen might have the deterring effect," the speaker said. The president's decision to deploy the National Guard comes after his dramatic, public falling out with Elon Musk, whose role within the government ended just over a week ago. Johnson said he still has not spoken with Musk since he took to his social media platform to blast Trump's legislative priority that Republicans are trying to pass through Congress, but they have exchanged text messages. "The president used the word 'disappointing.' I think that's right. We were disappointed, surprised," he said. "Look, Elon's number one responsibility is to save his company. The president and I have the responsibility to save this country, and that's what this bill does. And we're really excited and proud of this product," he added. Asked what his text messages with Musk said, Johnson said Musk expressed concerns about spending. "And I said, 'Elon, the spending categories in this bill are in two limited areas -- the border, which we promised the American people we would do, and its defense," he said. "Everything else in the bill is about historic savings and tax cuts." In response to Musk's suggestion for people to call their members of Congress to "kill in the bill," Johnson said, "We've got almost no calls to the offices." "Look, ​​I didn't go out to craft a piece of legislation to please the richest man in the world. What we're trying to do is help hard-working Americans who are trying to provide for their families to make ends meet." Johnson sidestepped a question on whether Trump should move forward with cutting Musk's government contracts. "I am not going to get into the strategy of what happens with all of that," he said. The speaker said he hopes the feud will "resolve" and said, "I'm going to continue to try to be a peacemaker in all of this." Johnson added that he thinks it "would be a big mistake" for Musk to go after Republicans who support the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. "I think Elon knows, at the end of the day, the reason he got involved to help President Trump win and to help Republicans win the majority in the House and the Senate is because he understands that our policies are better for human flourishing, they're better for the U.S. economy, they're better for everything that he's involved in," Johnson said. "I think when the emotion settles down, I think he'll recognize we have no choice. We have to hold the House majority in the 2026 mid-term election, and we will because we've got to allow President Trump four full years, not just two."

byMario Satorik

in

June 08, 2025

Johnson: Trump did 'exactly what he needed to do' in sending National Guard to LA

Johnson: Trump did 'exactly what he needed to do' in sending National Guard to LA House Speaker Mike Johnson said he is "not co...

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Jordan Love 'can't wait' to face Aaron Rodgers: 'Hopefully we can exchange jerseys'

Jordan Love 'can't wait' to face Aaron Rodgers: 'Hopefully we can exchange jerseys'

Aaron Rodgershas never played against theGreen Bay Packersduring his NFL career. That is set to change during the 2025 NFL season afterthe 41-year-old quarterback signedwith thePittsburgh Steelers. TheSteelersare scheduled to host thePackersinWeek 8on "Sunday Night Football." The contest will give Rodgers a chance to become the fifth-ever quarterback to beat all 32 NFL teams. For that reason, many believe Rodgers will have the game against the Packers circled on his calendar. But he won't be the only player looking forward to that matchup. Green Bay quarterbackJordan Loveis eagerly anticipating facing his former teammate and mentor for the first time in his five-year NFL career. "It's going to be fun. It's going to be awesome. I'm excited for it,"Love told Channel 3000of facing Rodgers during the 2025 NFL season. "I can't wait to be on different sides, meeting up, and I know we'll talk pre-game, things like that. And hopefully we can exchange jerseys after." Love detailed he has a "great relationship" with Rodgers, who has been "supportive" of him during his five-year career. The 2020 first-round pick credited the veteran for drawing on his own experiences as a backup and eventually taking over for Brett Favre, which helped positively shape their bond. "He'd been through the very same situation I was in, and he knew what it feels like to be in that situation," Love explained, referencing the path Rodgers faced after being selected in the 2005 NFL Draft as a long-term replacement for Favre. "I think that's just a testament to his character and the way he treats people. He was trying to go about it differently than it was for him. And I was grateful for that." As such, Love remains a fan of Rodgers even as they have spent the last two seasons apart. That's one of the reasons the 26-year-old is glad the veteran decided to sign with the Steelers and play another season after contemplating his future during the offseason. "I was excited for him, that he was obviously coming back and going to be playing," Love said of Rodgers. "There were also some rumors that he might be done, so just knowing he's going to keep playing, that's pretty awesome." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Packers vs. Steelers: Jordan Love 'can't wait' to face Aaron Rodgers

byMario Satorik

in

June 08, 2025

Jordan Love 'can't wait' to face Aaron Rodgers: 'Hopefully we can exchange jerseys'

Jordan Love 'can't wait' to face Aaron Rodgers: 'Hopefully we can exchange jerseys' Aaron Rodgershas never played agains...

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