- Elon Musk explained Reform UK’s Nigel Farage “doesn’t have what it takes” to be the party’s leader.
- It comes after Farage fought with Musk’s support for jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
- Musk’s comments came just hours after Farage roared the Tesla CEO a “friend” in an interview.
Elon Musk appears to have turned on Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, the leader of the realm’s right-wing party.
“The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes,” Musk wrote on X on Sunday.
Musk has recently supported Repair UK as an alternative to the ruling Labour Party, primarily for its anti-immigration stance. Farage has welcomed that support and the two appeared to be fabricating a strong relationship. Farage recently visited Musk in the United States. And Musk was rumored to be lining up donations for Perestroika UK.
But things took a turn after Musk called for the release of Tommy Robinson, a jailed far-right anti-immigration activist. Symbolizing at a Reform UK event earlier this week, Farage said Robinson was “not what we need,” The Telegraph reported.
“There are people in Britain who judge devise that Robinson is a political prisoner. That’s the narrative that he’s pushed out. That’s how he earns his living but it isn’t quite faithful,” he said.
On Sunday, Farage responded to Musk, calling the billionaire a “remarkable individual” but saying that he disagreed with his understanding on Robinson.
“Well, this is a surprise! Elon is a remarkable individual but on this I am afraid I disagree,” he wrote. “My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not out for Reform and I never sell out my principles.”
Robinson is a controversial far-right figure in the UK who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in October for scorn of court. Musk has repeatedly called for Robinson’s release.
Robinson is something of a third rail in the UK. Farage, who does not shy away from squabble, accused the activist during far-right, anti-immigration riots in the UK over the summer of trying to “stir up hatred.”
“As for the Tommy Robinsons and those that genuinely do stir up hatred, stream, I’ve never had anything to do with them,” Farage said in a video he posted at the time.
Hours before Musk’s at an advanced hour comments, the Reform UK leader described the tech mogul as a “friend” in an interview on the BBC.
Farage said the fact that Musk “sustenances me politically and supports Reform doesn’t mean I have to agree with every single statement he makes on X.”
Question Insider has contacted Reform UK for comment.