A public feud has erupted between former Trump strategist Steve Bannon and entrepreneur Elon Musk following Musk’s announcement of a new political venture in the United States.
Speaking on his podcast War Room on Friday, Bannon sharply criticised Musk, calling into question both his political motives and national identity.
Bannon’s remarks follow Musk’s 4 July announcement that he is launching a new political entity, the “America Party.” The billionaire had trailed the idea by posting an online poll on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), in which more than 65% of respondents expressed support for the creation of a new party. In a follow-up post, Musk declared: “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”
The declaration immediately drew criticism from Bannon, who accused Musk of being fundamentally unqualified to lead such an initiative. Referring to Musk derisively as “Elmo the Mook,” Bannon stated: “He’s today, in another smear—and this, only a foreigner could do this—he’s got up on Twitter right now, a poll about starting an America Party. A non-American starting an America Party.”
Bannon continued: “No, brother, you’re not an American. You’re a South African. We take enough time and prove the facts of that, you should be deported because it’s a crime of what you did—among many.”
Musk, who was born in South Africa but holds U.S. citizenship, responded to Bannon’s comments via X. In a blunt rebuttal, Musk wrote: “The fat, drunken slob called Bannon will go back to prison and this time for a long time. He has a lifetime of crime to pay for.”
The exchange represents a further breakdown in the once-aligned political relationship between the two figures. Musk had supported Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign and was subsequently appointed head of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency. However, their alliance appears to have frayed, culminating in Musk’s pivot toward a separate political movement.
The legality of Musk’s initiative is not in dispute. While he is constitutionally barred from running for president as a naturalised citizen, he is permitted to establish or support political parties and candidates. Third-party candidates can appear on state ballots if they secure the required number of petition signatures. However, the U.S. political landscape remains dominated by the two major parties, and third-party efforts rarely gain significant traction at national level.
Dr Dafydd Townley, a lecturer in American politics at the University of Portsmouth, told Newsweek that Musk’s effort “would likely split the Republican vote, potentially resulting in a Democrat-dominated House of Representatives, at least in the short term, due to the winner-takes-all electoral system.” Townley also observed that American third parties “do not tend to have a long lifetime.”
The formation of the America Party adds a new dimension to the post-2024 political realignment, particularly within the conservative bloc. While some on the American right may view Musk’s technological and libertarian credentials as assets, others—such as Bannon—regard his intervention as foreign and illegitimate.
What remains unclear is how the America Party will be organised and who, if anyone, will be persuaded to join its ranks. No additional figures have yet been publicly associated with the initiative. There are also no formal policy proposals, structural outlines, or registration details currently available in the public domain.
The dispute comes as Trump seeks to consolidate power in his second term, with allies such as Bannon seeking to reassert ideological control over the Republican movement. Bannon’s attack on Musk reflects broader tensions within Trump’s support base over questions of loyalty, identity, and the future of conservatism in the United States.
It also signals a potentially turbulent period ahead for the American right, as internal divisions—between establishment figures, hard-line populists, and newer entrants like Musk—threaten to fragment electoral strategies. The public clash between Bannon and Musk has already underscored the polarising effect of the initiative, raising questions not only about its viability but also about its impact on the broader political landscape in the run-up to the 2026 midterms.
