In a political climate already saturated with division, tech billionaires dabbling in politics, and the rise of fringe political movements, California Governor Gavin Newsom has officially weighed in on what’s quickly becoming one of the most talked-about controversies of 2025: Elon Musk’s newly launched political party. And his words were anything but diplomatic.

During a press briefing in Sacramento on Friday, Newsom addressed a growing wave of questions from reporters about Musk’s surprise announcement last week of “The American Future Party”, a movement Musk claims will “break the stranglehold of both Democrats and Republicans” while “ushering in a future-focused, liberty-based political revolution for the 21st century.”

Newsom, long known for his carefully crafted public statements, dropped any pretense of restraint when asked about the new party’s prospects.

“America doesn’t need another conman convention masquerading as a political movement,” Newsom declared bluntly, his words immediately triggering a firestorm on social media and across political news outlets. “We’ve seen this movie before — billionaire vanity projects dressed up as populist crusades. It never ends well for working people.”

A Fractured Political Arena

Musk’s new party, announced via a glitzy, highly produced livestream from SpaceX headquarters, has already drawn a flurry of mixed reactions. Some libertarians, disillusioned centrists, and even a handful of MAGA conservatives have signaled interest in Musk’s anti-establishment rhetoric, while establishment Republicans and Democrats alike have been quick to dismiss the party as a distraction — or a dangerous wildcard.

But it was Newsom’s remarks that landed with the greatest impact.

“We have actual problems to solve — housing, climate, gun violence, the erosion of voting rights — and this guy wants to play president with his Twitter followers and a few crypto bros?” Newsom added. “I’m not here for it. Californians aren’t here for it. And frankly, America can’t afford it.”

Within minutes of his statement, “Conman Convention” began trending on X (formerly Twitter), as Musk loyalists and political commentators alike weighed in on Newsom’s stinging rebuke.

Musk himself responded via an X post, writing:
“Funny how the establishment fears competition. If anyone’s been conning Americans for decades, it’s Newsom’s party of corporate donors and fake progress.”

A Personal History of Tension

Though Newsom and Musk both hail from California and have crossed paths in the state’s tech and policy circles, their relationship has been anything but friendly in recent years. Musk’s relocation of Tesla’s headquarters to Texas in 2021, amid complaints about California’s COVID-19 restrictions, marked the beginning of an increasingly public feud.

In 2022, Musk labeled Newsom a “political lightweight” and “tyrant in a good suit” during an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Newsom, for his part, has frequently criticized Musk’s handling of labor disputes, environmental policies, and what he described as “dangerous anti-science rhetoric” during the pandemic.

The launch of Musk’s political party appears to have deepened the divide, elevating their rivalry from the world of state policy to the national stage.

The Stakes for 2026

While Musk has yet to announce whether he’ll personally run for office, insiders speculate he’s laying the groundwork for either a third-party presidential bid or a nationwide candidate slate for the crucial 2026 midterms. The American Future Party’s founding charter, leaked earlier this week, calls for the abolition of the IRS, a national cryptocurrency initiative, and “mandatory AI integration in public infrastructure.”

Critics like Newsom argue the platform is less a policy blueprint and more a tech libertarian fantasy that would destabilize government institutions.

“Elon Musk isn’t running a movement,” Newsom warned. “He’s building a playground for the ultra-rich and the dangerously uninformed. And if we don’t take it seriously, it could hurt a lot of people.”

As pundits debate whether Newsom’s fiery remarks were a tactical move to consolidate support ahead of his rumored 2028 presidential bid, one thing is clear: the political battle lines surrounding Musk’s insurgent party are already being drawn — and the coming months promise an escalating war of words, loyalties, and ideologies.

For now, though, the Governor of California has thrown down the gauntlet, signaling that when it comes to Elon Musk’s latest power play, he intends to fight it with everything he’s got.