Nigel Farage vows to make up with Elon Musk at Donald Trump’s inauguration – however refuses to endorse ‘prison’ Tommy Robinson
Nigel Farage held out an olive branch to Elon Musk today after their very public political break-up, saying he wanted to ‘mend’ their fractured relationship.
The Reform UK leader said he planned to speak to the multi-billionaire X owner at Donald Trump’s January 20 inauguration in Washington DC.
But he refused to follow the Tesla boss, a close ally of Trump, in endorsing far right agitator Tommy Robinson, who was the cause of their spat.
On Sunday, Mr Musk called for Mr Farage to be removed as Reform leader, saying he did not have what it takes to do the job, amid a row over British Asian grooming gangs.
Appearing on LBC this morning, Mr Farage said: ‘Of course I want Elon Musk’s support.
‘Of course I want to mend any broken fences that exist. I’m sure we can do it.’
However he also hit out at ‘thuggish’ Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – the imprisoned former English Defence League leader, saying he could do ‘immense harm’ to Reform.
He added that Robinson has ‘a criminal record … as long as your arm’.
The Reform UK leader said he planned to speak to the multi-billionaire X owner at Donald Trump’s January 20 inauguration in Washington DC.
But he refused to follow the Tesla boss, a close ally of Trump, in endorsing far right agitator Tommy Robinson, who was the cause of their spat.
He hit out at Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – the imprisoned former English Defence League leader, saying he could do ‘immense harm’ to Reform.
Speaking during the phone-in, the Reform leader said he would be in the United States ‘for a good sort of four or five days’ for Donald Trump’s inauguration as president.
‘I have no desire to go to war with Elon Musk and I’m not going to, and I haven’t done. I’m a huge admirer of him, I think he’s an heroic figure,’ Mr Farage said.
Asked whether losing his support would weaken Reform UK, he added: ‘Not having Elon’s support would damage us with that younger generation because he kind of makes us look cool, so I’m being frank about that and I am confident that whatever has been said, we can mend. I really think we can.’
He added: ‘It’s not crucial. I mean look, if I was to embrace, as it looks like I was being urged to do, the sort of violent thuggish people like (Tommy) Robinson, that would do our party immense harm, and probably rightly so.
‘So the fact that I’ve stood up on a point of principle, even if in the short term its to my detriment, in the long run may even work in our favour.
‘Of course I want his support, of course I will talk to him in America in a few days’ time, of course I want to mend any broken fences that might exist. I’m sure we can do it.’
The Reform leader also said Musk’s description of Home Office minister Jess Phillips as a ‘rape genocide apologist’ did not go ‘beyond the line’.
The Reform UK leader said he did not ‘concur’ with the description.
But asked if he would address Mr Musk’s comments about Ms Phillips when he met the billionaire, Mr Farage said: ‘If he was inciting violence, then that would be going beyond the line at which free speech is acceptable.
‘It’s very, very strong language and it offends many, but then free speech should be able to offend many.’
Suggesting the language was chosen because Americans are ‘horrified’ by reports of child sexual exploitation in the UK, he added: ‘You may find it offensive, I don’t think it goes beyond the line.’
