Amid the highly publicised clash with US President Donald Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk sparked political debate by launching a poll on X (formerly Twitter), asking users if it was time to form a new political party in the United States.

“The people have spoken,” Musk declared after more than 80% of respondents voted in favour. “This is fate,” he added, framing the outcome as a mandate.

“A party for the 80% in the middle”

In a follow-up post, Musk elaborated, saying, “A new political party is needed in America to represent the 80% in the middle!”—a statement many interpreted as a swipe at the two-party system. This comes on the heels of a direct and heated social media exchange with President Trump.

Taking a jab at the Trump administration, Musk said, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” hinting at a lack of gratitude for his past support.

What did the poll say?

While Musk’s poll received more than 5.6 million votes, the results are not entirely reflective of the American electorate. Many users pointed out that the poll likely included a large number of non-US residents, making it less indicative of actual domestic sentiment.

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According to experts, adding a third party might not improve representation. “Multiple parties does not mean better representation or more diverse ideas,” one user wrote in response.

All about the Trump vs Musk feud

In a dramatic twist, Musk also claimed that Trump was named in the Jeffrey Epstein files, suggesting there were reasons for keeping such information hidden. Though unverified, this accusation has reignited long-standing conspiracy theories about Trump’s possible ties to Epstein.

Once seen as an informal ally of Trump—often praising his policies and having access to senior White House officials—Musk has now become a critic of the Trump government.

Musk has also publicly mocked Trump’s legislative efforts, including his infamous “big beautiful bill,” turning their private friction into a very public feud.