Wia dis foto come from, EPA
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- Author, Sean Seddon & Stuart Lau
- Role, BBC News
Elon Musk tok say e go launch new political party, weeks afta e quarrel wit US President Donald Trump.
Di billionaire announce for im social media platform X say e don set up di America Party, e dey stand as a challenge to di Republican and Democratic two-party system.
However, e dey unclear if de don formally register di party wit US election authorities. Musk, wey dem born outside of di US dey ineligible to run for di US presidency, but e neva tok who go lead di party.
E first raise di prospect of forming a party during im public fight wit Trump, e leave im role in di administration and engage in serious public criticism wit im former ally.
During dat time, Musk post one poll on X wia im ask users if dem want new political party in di US.
Referencing di poll for one post on Saturday, Musk write: “By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you go get am!
“Wen e come to bankrupting our kontri wit waste & graft, we live in one-party system, no be democracy.
“Today, dem form America Party to give you back your freedom.”
As of Saturday, di Federal Electoral Commission neva publish any documents indicating the party had been formally registered.
While high-profile players dey outside di traditional two-party system in US politics, e dey difficult for dem make dem gain strong enough nationwide popularity to pose real threat.
In di presidential election last year, candidates from di likes of Libertarian Party, di Green Party and di People Party all try in vain to stop Trump or im Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, from winning.
Musk was until recently core supporter of Trump, dancing alongside am during election rallies last year and e bring of one im pikin, four-year-old son to meet Trump in di Oval Office.
E dey among Trump key financial backer: Musk spend $250m (£187m) to help am regain office.
Afta di election, e appoint am to lead di so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), wey dey cut di federal budget.
Elon and Trump fallout start wen he leave di administration in May and publicly criticise Trump tax and spending plans.
Di legislation – wey Trump call “big, beautiful bill” – narrowly passed by Congress and di president sign am into law dis week.
Di massive law include huge spending commitments and tax cuts, and e go add more than $3tn to di US deficit ova di next decade.
Crucially for Musk, wey be di owner of electric-vehicle giant Tesla, Trump bill no focus on green transition or subsidies for products like Teslas.
“Elon fit get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far,” Trump write for im social media site, Truth Social, dis week. “Without subsidies, Elon go probably need to shop and head back home to South Africa.”
Trump threaten say Doge go look into subsidies in favour of Musk companies, e dey also tok about di billionaire oda businesses.
Musk na also di owner of SpaceX, whey don launch rockets for di US goment, and Starlink, wey dey provide satellite service for US and European defence forces.
