• Elon Musk launches the America Party, prioritizing the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files.
• Musk criticizes Trump for not releasing these files, questioning his credibility.
• The feud between Musk and Trump intensifies following recent comments and policy actions.
• Musk’s party aims to represent middle-ground voters in the political landscape.
• Trump rebukes Musk, calling the new party “ridiculous” and labeling him a “train wreck.”

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has escalated his ongoing conflict with President Donald Trump by announcing that the top priority of his newly formed political party, the America Party, will be to expose files related to the controversial figure Jeffrey Epstein. Musk openly questioned Trump’s trustworthiness, stating, “How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won’t release the Epstein files?” This declaration was made through a post on Musk’s social media platform, X, where he affirmed the priority by posting a “100” emoji in response to a user's inquiry, emphasizing the importance of this issue for the new party, according to The Hill, India Times, and Anadolu Agency.

The relationship between Musk and Trump has soured significantly since Musk began criticizing Trump’s ambitious legislative proposals, specifically referring to his major policy bill as “utterly insane and destructive.” Previously one of Trump’s biggest backers, Musk voiced his grievances post-election and signaled a desire for a third-party alternative via a poll on X. This marked a notable turn from Musk's earlier efforts to support Trump through substantial financial contributions, reports TRT Global and The Hill.

Musk’s focus on Epstein and his connections has further deepened the rift; he suggested that Trump’s name might be found in the Epstein files, although he later backtracked on those claims. Trump's response to these allegations has been dismissive, as he stated, “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy’s been talked about for years,” typically avoiding direct engagement with Musk's critiques. However, Trump's administration faced criticism for not releasing files that were promised, leading some to suggest the government is “deeply broken,” per India Times and Anadolu Agency.

The announcement of the America Party emphasizes Musk's ambition to create a political platform that aligns with the “middle 80%” of Americans, addressing rising political dissatisfaction. Like many new political movements, its viability remains to be seen, especially given the challenges third parties typically face in the U.S. electoral landscape, stated Republican strategists in their assessments, including comments noted by The Hill and TRT Global.