The Times reported on the 30th that there are rumors circulating in British politics that billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk will donate a large sum of money to a pro-Trump politician in the UK. There is speculation that Musk, who has been in opposition to Keir Starmer, the current British Labor Party Prime Minister, could use his astronomical wealth to shake up British politics by pushing for a politician he supports as Prime Minister.
According to The Times, there is talk among British opposition Conservative Party officials and businesspeople that Musk is preparing to donate $100 million to Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Reform Party, a far-right politician. The Times reported that the political funding is expected to be made through the UK branch of Musk’s social media company X (formerly Twitter), bypassing the relevant UK laws.
A source close to Farage also said that it would not be surprising if such a donation were made. The source said, “Musk admires Farage and wants him to succeed him.”
Farage is a right-wing politician who is called the ‘British Trump’. After leaving the Conservative Party in 1992, he spread anti-EU sentiment and led the Brexit movement. It is widely known that he built a close relationship with President-elect Donald Trump during the recent US presidential election, including giving a speech in support of him.
Farage said he was unaware of the rumors of Musk’s large donation but said that he is in close contact with Musk. Farage told The Times, “I am in contact with Musk, and he is very supportive of my views,” adding, “We both have a good relationship with President-elect Trump.”
Musk has clashed with the Labor Party since he wrote a series of critical posts about the Labor government led by Prime Minister Starmer during the anti-immigrant violence in the UK this summer. Recently, he shared a social media post saying that a petition started by opponents of the ruling party calling for an early general election in the UK had been signed by over 200,000 people, and expressed sympathy by writing, “Wow.”
There have also been reports that Musk is on good terms with former prime ministers of the Conservative and Labor parties, Boris Johnson and Tony Blair. According to the Financial Times (FT), venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan, who helped Musk acquire Twitter (now X) in 2022, is said to have recently re-introduced former Prime Minister Johnson to Musk and connected them.
Former Prime Minister Blair, who praised Musk as an “extraordinary innovator” in his recent book, is also said to have recently met and talked to Musk in person. The FT reported that both former Prime Minister Blair and Musk are close friends with Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, and that Blair’s non-profit foundation TBI is collaborating with Musk’s private satellite company Starlink on a project in Africa.
Meanwhile, there was advice that ruling party and government officials who have a strained relationship with Musk should hurry to improve their relationship with Musk, who has emerged as one of Trump’s closest aides.
The FT reported that former senator Peter Mandelson, a senior member of the Labor Party, recently advised British politicians to put aside their pride and contact Musk’s aides.