David Sacks, President Trump’s artificial intelligence (AI) and crypto czar, urged tech billionaire and friend Elon Musk to reconsider his recent third-party push, arguing his political goals could be achieved through the Republican Party.
Sacks, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, also said that he hopes Musk repairs his relationship with Trump, as the two had a public falling out over the president’s “big, beautiful bill” that ended up being signed into law on July 4.
“Look, I work for the president, and Elon is a good friend, and I hope that one day there will be a reconciliation. I do believe that Elon’s objectives politically can be achieved and can best be achieved through the Republican Party and I hope to convince him of that one day, and I hope that there’ll be a reconciliation, because I think Elon, and the President, there were once very good friends and I hope they will be soon again,” Sacks, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, said during his Tuesday appearance on CNBC’ “Money Movers.”
Musk, who spent nearly $300 million to help get Trump elected during the 2024 presidential election, announced the “America Party” earlier this month, a third-party group that Musk hopes could rival the Republican and Democratic Parties.
Musk has railed against Trump’s massive spending and tax bill, warning that the legislation would balloon the national debt. The president has said that Musk’s opposition to the bill is because of the incentives for electric vehicles (EVs) being yanked.
The relationship between Musk and Trump turned contentious, months after Musk forcefully campaigned for the president on the trail and was eventually tapped to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The two appeared to have eased tensions, only to again start throwing jabs at each other earlier this month.
Trump slammed Musk’s idea for a third party as “ridiculous.”
“He even wants to start a Third Political Party, despite the fact that they have never succeeded in the United States – The System seems not designed for them,” Trump wrote on July 6. “The one thing Third Parties are good for is the creation of Complete and Total DISRUPTION & CHAOS, and we have enough of that with the Radical Left Democrats, who have lost their confidence and their minds!”