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Elon Musk has privately played down the chances of donating to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, telling an associate it wouldn’t be easy to donate money to the British party after it joins the US government.
The associate said Musk told them earlier this month that Donald Trump’s inauguration would complicate his ability to donate to Reform due to the tech billionaire’s role heading a waste reduction unit in the new administration.
However Musk After meeting Farage in December at Mar-a-Lago, the two men did not see each other again when the reform leader traveled to Washington, D.C., for Trump’s inauguration, two people familiar with the matter said.
Musk has intervened dramatically in British politics in recent months, proclaiming reform as the country’s “only hope” and frequently criticizing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Last month, Farage said the X owner and Tesla boss was “seriously considering” a donation to Reform. The UK’s lax rules on political donations allow foreign entities – such as Musk’s UK subsidiary X – to donate unlimited amounts to UK parties.
But the two men have since clashed over Musk’s support for far-right agitator and convicted felon Tommy Robinson, who is in prison on contempt of court charges in connection with Robinson’s defamation of a Syrian refugee.
Earlier this month, Musk called for Farage to be replaced as leader of the Reform Party, posting on Reform MP.
Farage has cultivated ties with Trump, appearing at his rallies in the past. Although he was not invited to the Capitol rotunda for Monday’s ceremony, he attended several parties surrounding the event, including a formal ball after the inauguration.
Musk did not attend the inauguration party hosted by Brexit-supporting businessmen Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore – allies of Farage – in Washington on Friday, sending a close associate instead.
Musk was tasked by Trump to lead the “Department for Government Efficiency,” or DOGE, which will be part of an existing federal agency.
No US law prevents Musk from contributing financially to the Reform Party, and he can still choose to donate. However, a financial donation from a senior Trump administration official to a British opposition party could potentially generate diplomatic tensions between the United States and the United Kingdom, who are close allies.
Speculation that Musk could donate up to $100 million following a media report in November has given momentum to Britain’s right-wing party as it rises in the polls and attracts some Low-level defections from the Conservatives, the UK’s largest right-wing party and official opposition. .
A Reform Party spokesperson confirmed that Musk had not made any donations to date and said: “We have a good relationship with Elon Musk and will continue to do so. » Musk did not respond to a request for comment.