Susie Wiles describes Elon Musk’s “troublesome” White House exit and Trump’s rejection of the new third party.

Musk and Trump’s Alliance Ends in Discord

The high-profile partnership between Elon Musk and the Trump administration came to an abrupt and troubled end, according to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. In a newly released interview on Miranda Devine’s “Pod Force One” podcast, Wiles detailed how Musk’s once-productive relationship with the president unraveled after months of collaboration and mutual praise.

Wiles described Musk as a “fascinating person” with “so much to offer” the administration, bringing fresh ideas, new technologies, and global contacts that were valuable to the White House. “It was a great thing when it was a great thing, and then it had a very troublesome ending,” she said, emphasizing the dramatic shift in tone as Musk’s time with the administration drew to a close. She suggested that Musk’s “fatherly fixation” on President Trump may have contributed to the eventual fallout, noting that such intensity “inevitably was going to blow up at some point.”

Musk officially departed his role with the administration in May. The separation quickly led to open disagreements, especially after Musk launched his own “America Party,” a new political movement designed to challenge both the Republican and Democratic establishments in Congress. In public statements, Musk has argued that the party will contest key congressional seats and aims to form a powerful swing bloc capable of checking what he sees as the worst excesses of both major parties.

Trump Rejects Third-Party Movement

The new party announcement prompted a sharp rebuke from President Trump, who characterized the initiative as misguided and counterproductive. Speaking to reporters in Bedminster, New Jersey, before boarding Air Force One, Trump dismissed the “America Party” as a distraction that would only serve to sow confusion in the U.S. political system.

“I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party,” Trump said. “We have a tremendous success with the Republican Party. The Democrats have lost their way, but it’s always been a two-party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to confusion.” He further remarked, “It really seems to have been developed for two parties. Third parties have never worked. So, he can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”

Musk, for his part, has continued to criticize Trump-backed legislation—specifically the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which he called a “disgusting abomination”—signaling that the rift between the two former allies may grow even wider as the political season progresses.

As Musk pivots to building a new political brand and the Trump administration stays firmly behind the Republican Party, the split highlights ongoing tensions about the future of U.S. politics and the role of outsiders in reshaping the political landscape.