Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and key advisor to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, has sparked controversy by questioning whether the United States should “liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government.” This statement followed a series of critical social media posts aimed at top British lawmakers and the U.K. government, leading to a heated exchange between Musk and British officials. Musk, using the social media platform X (which he owns), voiced his concerns over how the British government has handled historical child abuse scandals.
Musk’s criticisms were particularly directed at Jess Phillips, the U.K. Safeguarding Minister, who he accused of being a “rape genocide apologist.” The remarks were made on Friday, and Musk’s social media activity escalated over the weekend. He continued to call for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation, stating that Starmer should be held accountable and jailed for his handling of child grooming gangs and other criminals targeting children. Musk even posted a poll on X, asking users whether the U.K. should be “liberated from its tyrannical government.”
Musk’s attacks came after Phillips rejected the call for a government-led inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham, a town that had been the center of local child abuse scandals. Before entering politics, Starmer served as the U.K. Director of Public Prosecutions, overseeing the Crown Prosecution Service during the country’s child rape gang scandal. Phillips, meanwhile, had worked with Women’s Aid, a charity dedicated to supporting victims of domestic violence, before becoming a political figure.
Responding to Musk’s online comments, Starmer defended the actions he took during his tenure as the Director of Public Prosecutions. At a Monday news conference, Starmer said, “On the question of Elon Musk … it is a really important set of issues. Child sexual exploitation is utterly sickening.” However, he also criticized those spreading “lies and misinformation” in such matters, accusing them of being more interested in self-promotion than in helping victims. Starmer emphasized that during his time at the Crown Prosecution Service, they achieved the highest number of child sexual abuse cases ever prosecuted.
Starmer further stated, “Just as I took on the criminal justice system and the institutions when I was chief prosecutor, I’m prepared to call out this for what it is.” He was particularly outraged by what he perceived as a “poison of the far right” leading to serious threats against Phillips and others. He continued, “When the poison of the far right leads to serious threats to Jess Phillips and others, in my book a line has been crossed. I enjoy the cut and thrust of politics, but that’s got to be based on facts … not on those who are so desperate for attention that they’re prepared to debase themselves and their country.”
Wes Streeting, the U.K. Health Minister, also weighed in on the controversy, condemning Musk’s attack on Phillips. Streeting called the comments a “disgraceful smear,” noting that both Starmer and Phillips had dedicated significant portions of their professional lives to locking up dangerous criminals, including pedophiles, rapists, and abusers. Speaking to the BBC, Streeting said, “Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips, who have both been on the end of completely ill-judged criticism have done, in their professional lives, more than most people will ever do to lock up pedophiles, rapists, wife beaters and every other scumbag in our society.” He also challenged Musk to “roll his sleeves up and actually do something about tackling violence against women and girls,” pointing to the role that digital platforms, like X, should play in ensuring online safety.
This public dispute comes just two weeks before the inauguration of Donald Trump’s second presidency, raising questions about the future of the so-called “special relationship” between the U.K. and the U.S. Musk’s new role as an unofficial advisor to Trump coincides with heightened attention on the future of Anglo-American relations. The tensions surrounding Musk’s remarks, as well as Britain’s dealings with the incoming U.S. administration, highlight the challenges the U.K. faces in balancing its international relationships.
Britain has already faced pressure to rebuild diplomatic ties with the United States in light of previous critical remarks made by a top British official regarding Trump. Meanwhile, the European Union has been working to strengthen its relationship with the U.K., anticipating that they may need to collaborate to protect both parties from potential U.S. trade tariffs. As the political landscape evolves, Musk’s comments have added a new layer of complexity to the discussions surrounding Britain’s foreign policy and its domestic challenges.
As the war of words continues, the exchanges between Musk and U.K. politicians reflect a broader debate over the handling of child abuse cases, the role of social media in political discourse, and the tensions between national governments and powerful tech figures. Musk’s remarks have garnered widespread attention, and while his spokespersons have yet to respond to media inquiries, his role in shaping political conversations—particularly through social media—remains undeniable.
This incident serves as a reminder of the growing influence of tech billionaires like Musk, who are increasingly willing to engage directly with political issues. Whether Musk’s actions will lead to any concrete change in U.K. policies or shift public opinion remains uncertain, but the confrontation has certainly made waves both in the U.K. and the U.S. As Musk continues to use his platform to voice his opinions on global matters, the lines between business, politics, and social responsibility are becoming increasingly blurred.