Musk Helps the Democrats
Published in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
(Germany) on 6 July 2025
by Nikolas Busse (link to
original)
A new party led by Elon Musk would have little chance of success in the United States’ two-party system. But it could cost the Republicans crucial votes.
There is little to suggest that Elon Musk’s party would be successful if he were to really go through with founding one. The United States has traditionally had a two-party system. There have always been third-party candidates or independents, but they generally fail to win elections. No one has ever made it to the White House.
Musk himself could not even run, at least not for president, because he was born outside the U.S. So, he would have to defer to lesser-known candidates. That would not only be a challenge for his ego; it would also limit his base of voters.
Musk’s Wealth
Ultimately, there is the question of the political message. Above all, Musk opposes expanding public debt. He can afford to reduce federal spending; many voters cannot.
Musk’s wealth is presumably still the most politically relevant factor. Third parties usually cost one of the big parties votes. In this case, it is likely to be the Republicans.
And, since Musk can potentially invest a lot of money in an election campaign, Democratic candidates above all may be the ones who have the last laugh. For that to be the case, however, the party would have to first find its footing again. It still hasn’t found an answer to Trump’s rout of the party’s program and its personnel.
There is little to suggest that Elon Musk’s party would be successful if he were to really go through with founding one. The United States has traditionally had a two-party system. There have always been third-party candidates or independents, but they generally fail to win elections. No one has ever made it to the White House.
Musk himself could not even run, at least not for president, because he was born outside the U.S. So, he would have to defer to lesser-known candidates. That would not only be a challenge for his ego; it would also limit his base of voters.
Musk’s Wealth
Ultimately, there is the question of the political message. Above all, Musk opposes expanding public debt. He can afford to reduce federal spending; many voters cannot.
Musk’s wealth is presumably still the most politically relevant factor. Third parties usually cost one of the big parties votes. In this case, it is likely to be the Republicans.
And, since Musk can potentially invest a lot of money in an election campaign, Democratic candidates above all may be the ones who have the last laugh. For that to be the case, however, the party would have to first find its footing again. It still hasn’t found an answer to Trump’s rout of the party’s program and its personnel.
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