Elon Musk, billionaire businessman and incoming adviser to US President-elect Donald Trump, reignited tensions with the UK government this week by sharing a deeply private story about his British grandmother. Cora Amelia Robinsonwhile delivering scathing criticism of senior British officials.
Musk spoke of his grandmother, a working-class woman who survived poverty during the Great Depression and the bombings of World War II. “She cleaned houses to put food on the table,” Musk said, adding: “If she were alive in today’s Britain, she could have been kidnapped.” The comment came as Musk criticized the government’s handling of child care gangs and historical cases of abuse.
Aiming for labor leadership
The Tesla CEO took to his social media platform, X, to accuse the UK Safeguarding Minister. Jess Phillips of being an “apologist for the rape genocide” and asked the Prime Minister Keir Starmerimpeachment, suggesting he should face jail time for his role in prosecuting child abuse cases.
Musk even polled his followers, asking them if the United States should “free the people of Great Britain from their tyrannical government.” The question, although posed provocatively, sparked widespread debate, with some seeing it as satire and others as a direct challenge to the UK’s leadership.
Starmer strikes back
At a press conference on Monday, Starmer defended his tenure as the UK’s director of public prosecutions, claiming that a record number of child sexual abuse cases were prosecuted during his leadership. He condemned Musk’s comments and said: “Those who spread lies and misinformation are not interested in the victims. “They are interested in themselves.”
Starmer also addressed threats made to Jess Phillips, calling her “far-right poison” and added: “A line has been crossed. Policy should be based on facts, not desperation for attention.”
‘Do something, musk’
Health Minister Wes Streeting joined the fray, calling Musk’s comments about Phillips a “disgraceful smear” and challenging him to “roll up his sleeves” to combat violence against women and children. Streeting also highlighted the role of digital platforms, such as Musk’s X, in ensuring online safety.
A special relationship in danger?
The clash between Musk and Starmer comes at a critical time for relations between the United Kingdom and the United States. Now that Trump is about to begin his second presidency, concerns are mounting about the fate of the “special relationship.” The European Union has already been seeking closer ties with Britain to protect itself from potential U.S. trade tariffs.
As Musk continues to stoke controversy, his growing influence in the Trump administration and penchant for provocation leave the world watching (and wondering) what’s next for UK-US diplomacy.
