It was an abrupt about-face, even considering the easy-going and easy-going nature of the alliance in President-elect Donald J. Trump's political line.
Billionaire Elon Musk, a supporter of Trump, has for weeks embraced British populist politician Nigel Farage, praising his anti-immigrant, anti-immigration party, Reform UK, as a solution to Britain's problems. It has been advertised as.
But on Sunday, Musk posted: “The Reform Party needs new leadership.” Farage doesn't have what it takes. ”
Musk did not explain his change of heart. But it appears to be linked to Mr Farage's refusal to support Mr Musk's call for the release of far-right provocateur Tommy Robinson. Mr Farage, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has distanced himself from Mr Robinson, who has a history of Islamophobic comments and multiple convictions.
“Wow, this is a surprise!” Farage, a hard-working chipper, posted an hour after Musk. “Elon is a great guy, but unfortunately I don't agree with him on this. My view is that Tommy Robinson is not a good fit for reform, and I will never sell my principles.”
The rift between Mr Musk and Mr Farage was the latest development in a multi-day barrage of increasingly strident and misinformed posts by Mr Musk about the UK. Mr. Musk appears to be intending to exercise the same influence over European countries as he did during the US administration. Presidential election.
He unfairly accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of failing to pursue child rapists when he was Director of Public Prosecutions. He also supported a post calling on King Charles III to dissolve Parliament and hold an election to remove the British Labor government, which is constitutionally impossible.
Musk targeted Britain after backing Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party. In the UK, Farage appears to be silencing Musk's support as he criticizes the Labor government over, among other things, prosecutions for online hate speech.
But Mr Farage appears to have been aware of the problems surrounding Mr Robinson. In an interview with the BBC on Sunday, which preceded Musk's post, he described the tech billionaire as a “friend” and a “hero” of free speech. But he added that just because Musk “supports me politically and supports reform doesn't mean I have to agree with everything he says about X.”
Mr Farage is campaigning for Mr Trump and has made pilgrimages to his Palm Beach mansion, Mar-a-Lago. But Mr. Musk has not shied away from clashing with even longtime allies of Mr. Trump. His support for visas for technology workers has put him at odds with some Trump supporters, including Stephen K. Bannon, who have accused Trump of violating his “America First” credo.
The rift between Mr Musk and Mr Farage could have unintended consequences for both men. Mr Farage, who won his parliamentary seat last July after eight attempts, is a skilled politician who has ridden the wave of populism for decades. Although Musk's posts have garnered a lot of attention, the number of users of X in the UK has declined since Musk took over.
Musk appeared to be flirting with fellow Reform MP Rupert Lowe. In response to a post about whether he should replace Farage as party leader, Musk said: “I've never met Rupert Lowe, but what I've read about him online makes a lot of sense.'' ” he wrote.
The most immediate impact of Mr Musk's rebuke is likely to be on Reform UK's funding. When asked in a BBC interview if he expected Musk to donate, he replied: He might do that. But it has to be legal. He should be used to it.”
