Elon Musk and Nigel Farage. (Image: Getty)
and have long appeared as political allies, with Farage praising Musk for his influence and ideas.
The pair even met at ’s Mar-a-Lago resort in December. But their friendship seems to have taken a turn this week with Musk publicly calling for Farage to step down as leader of the Reform Party.
Taking to X on Sunday, January 5, Musk posted: “The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.”
Farage hit back, calling the tech mogul “remarkable” but stood firm on his views, saying: “On this, I am afraid I disagree. My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform, and I never sell out my principles.”
The fallout appears to be rooted in Musk’s support for , the founder of the far-right English Defence League (EDL).
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Musk publicly called for Farage to step down as leader of the Reform Party. (Image: Getty)
Well, this is a surprise! Elon is a remarkable individual but on this I am afraid I disagree. My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform and I never sell out my principles.
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage)
Robinson, who is currently serving an for breaching a court order related to false claims about a Syrian schoolboy, has been a divisive figure in the UK for years.
Musk’s public endorsement of Robinson has drawn sharp criticism from British MPs and sparked concerns about his influence.
On January 3, Musk posted to his 100-million-strong following, calling for Robinson’s release and sharing the controversial documentary at the centre of the case.
Among many MPs, Labour’s Stella Creasy criticised Musk’s comments, telling Politico: “Musk’s support for figures like Tommy Robinson and Germany’s AfD shows just how dangerous he is for democracy.”
Farage, meanwhile, has distanced himself from Robinson for years. In a recent interview, he said: “I never wanted Tommy Robinson in UKIP, and I don’t want him in Reform UK.”
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Farage has distanced himself from Robinson for years. (Image: Getty)
The rift with Musk comes despite Farage describing him days earlier as a “hero figure” who had been “very helpful” to their cause. Farage had also been hopeful that .
The timing of Musk’s remarks has raised eyebrows, particularly as Reform works to shed any association with far-right extremism ahead of a political push.
While Musk’s controversial stance on Robinson has bolstered his image among some, it has left Farage grappling with damage control as he seeks to keep the party’s distance from figures who have drawn criticism for stirring division.
Despite the public disagreement, Farage has made it clear he won’t be stepping down anytime soon.
The question now is whether Musk’s influence will sway Reform’s supporters – or whether Farage’s rejection of Robinson will solidify his leadership among those wary of far-right ties.