As the Donald Trump-Elon Musk axis disintegrated spectacularly on Thursday, billionaires and investors were among the many who were transfixed by the public spat. During the melee, Musk posted a poll on X asking if it was time to create a new political party, drawing an endorsement from Mark Cuban, who has previously eyed a third party as well.

During the 2024 presidential election, Musk backed Trump and poured as much as $288 million into his campaign — making him the largest donor. When Trump won the election and assumed the office of the White House, he, in turn, appointed Musk as his principal advisor and the de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).