The tensions around the scandal contributed to race riots that took place in August, during which Musk also clashed with the United Kingdom’s government.
Against this backdrop, Musk’s strident criticism of centrist and center-left politicians like Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips, a Home Office minister, is not unexpected — the Tesla entrepreneur’s politics have veered further and further right on immigration in recent years, and he often picks fights online with left-wing leaders.
His schism with Farage, a darling of the anti-immigration movement, is more surprising. Earlier on Sunday, when asked in a television interview about insults and semi-truths Musk had thrown at Labour politicians, Farage defended Musk’s right to freedom of speech.
But Farage disagreed with Musk’s endorsement of fascist figurehead Tommy Robinson, who is currently serving a prison sentence for contempt of court.
Musk “has a whole range of opinions, some of which I agree with very strongly, and others of which I’m more reticent about,” Farage said on Friday.
Speculation has been rife that the world’s richest man could make a significant financial intervention into U.K. politics, as he did in the 2024 American election which saw Donald Trump win and Musk gain the president-elect’s ear and a role advising on a major government shake-up.
