American history is littered with third-party bids that flared brightly only to fizzle out, he explained. George Wallace carried five Southern states in 1968 and Ross Perot grabbed nearly 19% of the popular vote in 1992 — yet neither cracked the two-party hold on the presidency.

We may soon see one, according to Elon Musk. The country’s richest person has vowed to create the “America Party” if Congress and President Trump pass the “Big Beautiful Bill” this month. Time will tell whether Musk will deliver on this promise, but the idea has sparked a discussion about the viability of a new third-party in American politics.

Musk’s outrage over Trump’s signature legislation fuels a pledge to rejoin the political fray, despite the wounds he’s taken and the poor electoral record of mavericks.