ELON Musk has called for the release of far-right agitator Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – known as Tommy Robinson.
The Tesla chief executive made clear his backing for the extremist in a series of posts on social media on Thursday.
Robinson was sentenced to 18 months in prison in October for contempt of court after he defied an order not to repeat false and defamatory allegations against a Syrian refugee.
The allegations are included in Robinson’s film, which is called Silenced.
Writing on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk said the film was “worth watching” and repeatedly called for Robinson’s release.
The Tesla boss wrote “Free Tommy Robinson!” and tagged the far-right activist in a post which has now been pinned to the top of his social media profile.
“He should be freed and those who covered up this travesty should take his place in that cell.”
He further shared a post calling Robinson a “political prisoner”.
Many of the posts Musk has shared about Robinson deal with allegations of “grooming gangs” in the UK, which the far-right agitator presents as a cultural import due to immigration.
The topic led Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to write on social media: “The time is long overdue for a full national inquiry into the rape gangs scandal.
“Trials have taken place all over the country in recent years but no one in authority has joined the dots. 2025 must be the year that the victims start to get justice.”
Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader who Badenoch is competing against for hard-right voters, responded: “Talk is cheap. The Conservatives had 14 years in government to launch an inquiry.
“The establishment has failed the victims of grooming gangs on every level.”
Only Reform can save Britain. https://t.co/KayCknFQUZ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 1, 2025
Musk has said that Farage’s Reform UK can “save Britain,” and called for a new General Election.
He claimed that the UK Government was “refusing to investigate the rape gangs” because “it would obviously lead to the blaming of Keir Stamer [sic]” due to his previous role as the director of public prosecutions.
Robinson has been convicted of multiple offenses, including mortgage fraud, contempt of court, and assault.
He came to prominence after being involved in the founding of the far-right English Defence League, which he also led.
Right-wing Australian politician Senator Ralph Babet said he had put in a request to interview Robinson in jail during a visit to the UK.
He is not the first far-right figure to be supported by Musk, who last month drew criticism after backing the neo-Nazi party AfD in Germany.
