MAGA tycoon Elon Musk unleashed his tumultuous political tweets aimed at Britain on Sunday, continuing a dramatic outburst that has shifted from advocating for the release of a imprisoned fascist Islamophobe to demanding the ousting of Nigel Farage, the head of the Reform Party.
“The Reform Party is in dire need of a new leader,” Musk expressed on Twitter. “Farage lacks the necessary qualities.”
Farage, a prominent leader in the nativist Brexit movement and a long-time supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, had just the day before praised Musk as a “true hero who upholds free speech.”
However, he found himself at odds with Musk regarding his recent endorsement of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, a well-known far-right figure associated with fascist and Islamophobic organizations, known by the alias Tommy Robinson.
Musk has been advocating since the New Year for Robinson’s release, who is currently serving an 18-month sentence for contempt of court. Farage has consistently stated that he does not wish for Robinson to be part of his party.
“Well, this comes as a surprise!” Farage tweeted in response to Musk’s demands for his removal. “Elon is quite an extraordinary individual, but I must respectfully disagree on this issue. I stand firm in my belief that Tommy Robinson is not a fit for Reform, and I will not compromise my principles.”
Farage might have heeded the warning signs from U.S. Republicans regarding the unpredictable Musk. After providing financial and steadfast support during the campaign, he ignited a MAGA civil war last month with controversial posts about federal expenditures, leading to the collapse of a funding bill for the government.
The Tesla founder had also recently been on good terms with Farage, even hosting him at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida amid speculation that he might contribute financially to Reform as well.
Musk expressed his backing for the incarcerated far-right figure Robinson while simultaneously launching critiques against UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, asserting that Starmer has failed to pursue justice against gangs involved in the grooming and sexual exploitation of young girls.
He further demanded that Jess Phillips, the junior minister responsible for Violence Against Women and Girls, be incarcerated for being a “rape genocide apologist.”
Musk was reacting to an October report in which Phillips turned down Oldham Council’s plea for a government-led investigation into child sexual exploitation.
The government contended that the council should spearhead the inquiry, emphasizing its commitment to enacting recommendations from the 2022 final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse—the current Labour administration has only been in power for five months.
Alexis Jay, the chair of that inquiry, expressed her frustration in November over the lack of implementation of its recommendations.
She warned against launching any additional commissions and studies: “There is no need for more consultation, no requirement for further research or debate; it simply needs to be acted upon.”
