Elon Musk has asked whether the U.S. should “liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government” as the tech billionaire intervened in U.K. politics again.
In recent months, the key adviser to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly posted attacks on social media of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his center-left Labour Party, which was elected in July.
Most recently, the South African-born U.S. businessman has focused on child sexual abuse and the U.K. government’s handling of investigations into organized gangs that allegedly oversaw the systematic rape of young women.
The Tesla CEO has also pushed the “two-tier policing” conspiracy theory, claiming British officials treat pro-Palestinian or Black Lives Matter demonstrators more leniently than far-right protesters.
Musk’s fascination with the U.K. was reportedly set to extend to making a substantial donation to Reform U.K., the growing right-wing party. But that now looks in doubt after Musk on Sunday said leader Nigel Farage “doesn’t have what it takes.”
His interest in British politics continued Monday, when he posted an online poll on his X social media site that posed the proposition: “America should liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government.”
In his attacks on the U.K. government, Musk has called for the jailing of Jess Phillips, a junior government minister responsible for combating violence against women and girls. He called her a “rape genocide apologist.”
That comment came after Phillips reportedly rejected calls for a public inquiry into historic child abuse in the northern English town of Oldham and said such a decision was up to the local authorities.
Musk also has criticized Starmer for failing to bring perpetrators to justice when he was England’s director of public prosecutions between 2008 and 2013.
The previous Conservative government held an inquiry into historic child sex abuse cases, though many of the recommendations it made in 2022 have yet to be implemented.
Musk’s fallout with Farage — the political leader had described Musk as “a hero” — stems from the Reform U.K. leader distancing himself from jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Musk has said Robinson should be released from prison.
On Monday, Starmer responded to Musk’s attacks, condemning “those that are spreading lies and misinformation as far and as wide as possible.”
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The prime minister defended his record as chief prosecutor, saying he had reopened closed cases and “changed the whole prosecution approach” to child sexual exploitation.
He also slammed the language used by Musk about Phillips. “When the poison of the far-right leads to serious threats to Jess Phillips and others, then in my book, a line has been crossed,” Starmer said.
The billionaire’s remarks on Britain underline his increased interest in politics across the world after helping bankroll Trump’s imminent return to the White House. Musk has also weighed in on German politics recently by endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
