ELON Musk has said Nigel Farage “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead Reform UK, just weeks after it was claimed the pair had a “great” meeting in the US.
The tech billionaire and owner of the social media platform X/Twitter had met with Farage in December at US president-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, which the Reform UK leader later described as “historic”.
The meeting followed reports that Musk was considering donating up to $100 million (£79 million) to Farage’s party.
The Clacton MP defended Musk on the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg show on Sunday morning saying “free speech was back” after the Tesla owner attacked the UK Government's response to grooming gangs.
He also called Musk a “hero” and said that support from the billionaire would help make his party “look cool” and increase its popularity with young people.
However, Farage has also tried to distance himself from Musk following his support for the jailed far-right agitator Tommy Robinson, saying he was “not what we need”.
In a post on X/Twitter on Sunday, Musk said: “The Reform Party needs a new leader.
“Farage doesn’t have what it takes.”
Farage created Reform UK in 2018, when it was called the Brexit Party, and returned as the party's leader before being elected an MP in the 2024 General Election.
The Reform UK leader replied to Musk's post saying: “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.”
When quizzed on Musk by Kuenssberg on Sunday, Farage said he did not agree with “everything” the X owner stands for but does believe in free speech when he was asked why he seemed reluctant to criticise him.
Earlier in the interview, Farage defended Musk following his attack on the UK Government over its handling of grooming gangs in a series of posts on social media.
Musk suggested safeguarding minister Jess Phillips “deserves to be in prison” for denying requests for the Home Office to lead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham.
Musk also attacked Keir Starmer, saying the Prime Minister failed to bring “rape gangs” to justice when he was director of public prosecutions.
Farage told Kuenssberg that Musk had used “very tough terms” but that “free speech was back” on X/Twitter under his ownership.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who was also on the programme, said he is “not interested” in what Musk has to say about the UK’s handling of grooming gangs.
He added that the Prime Minister and Phillips “don’t need lectures” from anyone on how to lock up sex offenders.
Streeting added that Musk’s comments on Phillips were a “disgraceful smear” considering her efforts to support victims of abuse.
Farage has also prolifically supported President-elect Donald Trump, whom Musk has become an adviser to, in the run-up to the US election last year.
He said: “I made a decision in 2016 to put my head over the parapet to support Trump.
“I have stuck with him through thick and thin.”
