Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made headlines on July 7, 2025, urging billionaire Elon Musk to abandon his plan for a new political party and instead focus his immense influence on securing constitutional amendments for congressional term limits and a balanced federal budget. Speaking at an education event in Jacksonville, DeSantis argued that Musk’s proposed “America Party” would likely split the Republican vote, handing Democrats victories in competitive 2026 midterm races. The governor’s call comes amid tensions between Musk and President Trump, highlighting a strategic divide within the conservative movement.
DeSantis, a former congressman, emphasized that systemic change in Washington requires altering the incentives driving lawmakers. He pointed to the national debt—$34 trillion and climbing—as a crisis untouched by elections alone. With 28 states already backing an Article V convention for a balanced budget amendment, DeSantis said Musk could have a “monumental impact” by rallying the six additional states needed to reach the 34-state threshold. He also championed term limits, noting that 13 states, including Florida, have passed resolutions to cap congressional tenure, a reform backed by 83% of Americans, per a 2023 University of Maryland poll.
The governor’s remarks respond to Musk’s frustration with Congress’s failure to adopt spending cuts proposed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk co-led until scaling back in May 2025. DeSantis criticized lawmakers for ignoring DOGE’s recommendations, just as they resisted Trump’s immigration orders. He argued that a third party, while innovative, risks electing Democrats who oppose fiscal restraint. Instead, Musk’s resources—evidenced by his $288 million in 2024 election spending—could sway state legislatures to force Congress’s hand through constitutional reform.
Critics see DeSantis’s pitch as a pragmatic olive branch to Musk, whose feud with Trump over the “Big Beautiful Bill” exposed GOP rifts. The bill, a sprawling reconciliation package, drew Musk’s ire for its spending, prompting his party-launch announcement. DeSantis, who avoided endorsing the bill, shares Musk’s fiscal concerns but insists structural fixes like term limits—potentially six House terms and two Senate terms—would curb entrenched interests. Opponents, however, warn that term limits could empower lobbyists and that a balanced budget amendment risks slashing essential programs like Social Security, per a 2024 Brookings analysis.
The proposal taps into public distrust, with only 17% approving of Congress, per Gallup. DeSantis’s call aligns with his broader push to “drain the swamp,” a cause he’s championed since returning $878 million in federal funds to protest Biden-era strings. As Musk weighs his next move, DeSantis’s advice offers a path to reshape Washington without fracturing the GOP. The question remains whether Musk will pivot from party-building to constitutional crusading, potentially redefining his role in America’s political future.
