Elon Musk has called for Nigel Farage to be replaced as chief of Reform UK, just weeks after reports the multi-billionaire was in talks to donate to the event.

In a post on his social media site X, Musk said Farage “doesn’t have what it takes” to navigator the event – but did not explain his reasoning.

Farage suggested this was due to a disagreement over Musk’s back for far-correct activist Tommy Robinson.

He said Musk’s comment was “a shock”, but that he would “never sell out my principles”.

The comment from the tech business owner comes hours after Farage described Musk as a “partner” in an interview on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.

Musk has been a vocal supporter of Farage and his event, posting on X in December that Britain “absolutely” needs Reform UK.

But this week a rift emerged over Musk’s back for Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court.

Robinson admitted in court to breaching an injunction against repeating claims about a Syrian refugee schoolboy after losing a 2021 libel case.

In a social media post on Sunday in response to Musk’s comment, Farage said: “Elon is a remarkable person but on this I am afraid I dissent”.

“My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not correct for Reform and I never sell out my principles.”

Minutes after Farage made his statement, Musk posted on X: “Free Tommy Robinson now.”

In the interview broadcast earlier on Sunday, Farage called Musk a “hero” who makes Reform UK “look chilly”.

But he added that Musk’s back “doesn’t cruel I have to consent with every single statement he makes on X”.

Farage said he planned to “have a exchange with (Musk) on a variety of things” – including Robinson – at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Farage has maintained close ties to Trump, who has given Musk a role in his administration.

The question now is whether Farage’s companionship with the president-elect is affected.

Farage founded Reform UK in 2018, then called the Brexit event, and returned as the event’s chief before being elected as an MP in 2024.

In December, Farage, along with Reform’s recent event treasurer Nick Candy, met Musk at Mar-a-Lago for an hour-long conference, and began “open negotiations” about a donation to the event.

Musk’s father Errol has suggested the SpaceX and Tesla mogul might even be prepared to become a UK citizen to make a $100m (£80.5 m) donation to Reform UK. Farage later said investing about the figure was “for the birds”.

As a US citizen, Musk cannot make personal political donations in the UK – but could make one through the British branch of his corporation X.

For now, at least it seems the rumours of a large donation from Musk to Reform are on ice.

Since his conference with Farage, Musk has increasingly taken an yield in UK politics – focusing on criticism of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Musk has spent the week amplifying calls by Reform UK and the Conservative event for a national inquiry into grooming gangs.

The calls came after the government turned down a request to conduct an inquiry into historical cases of sexual abuse in Oldham, saying the council should navigator it instead.

This prompted Musk to accuse Sir Keir of failing to properly prosecute “rape gangs” while he was director of community prosecutions.

Musk also said Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips “deserves to be in prison” and called her a “rape genocide apologist”.

Asked about Musk’s comments on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Farage said the CEO had used “very tough terms, but that “free talk was back” on X under his ownership.

In 2022, an independent inquiry by Greater Manchester Combined Authority found that vulnerable children were left exposed to sexual exploitation in Oldham because of “solemn failings” by the police and council.

The government has rejected the calls for a national inquiry, instead asking Oldham Council to set up its own. The previous Conservative government turned down a similar request in 2022.

Phillips and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a note to the Conservatives that the local authority had already started setting up an inquiry.

The note also pointed to the 2022 kid Sexual Abuse Inquiry, which investigated abuse in worry homes, churches, homes or by grooming gangs.

The update knitted several previous inquiries into grooming gangs together, including in Rotherham, Rochdale and Telford, alongside its own investigations.

Speaking on Sunday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the government was prioritising “getting on with” implementing the update’s 20 recommendations to combat kid sexual abuse.

He told the BBC that Musk’s criticism of Phillips was a “disgraceful smear” and said “people like Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips have done the challenging yards of actually locking up wife beaters, rapists and paedophiles”.

Elon Musk has called for Nigel Farage to be replaced as chief of Reform UK, just weeks after reports the multi-billionaire was in talks to donate to the event.

In a post on his social media site X, Musk said Farage “doesn’t have what it takes” to navigator the event – but did not explain his reasoning.

Farage suggested this was due to a disagreement over Musk’s back for far-correct activist Tommy Robinson.

He said Musk’s comment was “a shock”, but that he would “never sell out my principles”.

The comment from the tech commence-up founder comes hours after Farage described Musk as a “partner” in an interview on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.

Musk has been a vocal supporter of Farage and his event, posting on X in December that Britain “absolutely” needs Reform UK.

But this week a rift emerged over Musk’s back for Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court.

Robinson admitted in court to breaching an injunction against repeating claims about a Syrian refugee schoolboy after losing a 2021 libel case.

In a social media post on Sunday in response to Musk’s comment, Farage said: “Elon is a remarkable person but on this I am afraid I dissent”.

“My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not correct for Reform and I never sell out my principles.”

Minutes after Farage made his statement, Musk posted on X: “Free Tommy Robinson now.”

In the interview broadcast earlier on Sunday, Farage called Musk a “hero” who makes Reform UK “look chilly”.

But he added that Musk’s back “doesn’t cruel I have to consent with every single statement he makes on X”.

Farage said he planned to “have a exchange with (Musk) on a variety of things” – including Robinson – at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Farage has maintained close ties to Trump, who has given Musk a role in his administration.

The question now is whether Farage’s companionship with the president-elect is affected.

Farage founded Reform UK in 2018, then called the Brexit event, and returned as the event’s chief before being elected as an MP in 2024.

In December, Farage, along with Reform’s recent event treasurer Nick Candy, met Musk at Mar-a-Lago for an hour-long conference, and began “open negotiations” about a donation to the event.

Musk’s father Errol has suggested the SpaceX and Tesla mogul might even be prepared to become a UK citizen to make a $100m (£80.5 m) donation to Reform UK. Farage later said hazard-taking about the figure was “for the birds”.

As a US citizen, Musk cannot make personal political donations in the UK – but could make one through the British branch of his corporation X.

For now, at least it seems the rumours of a large donation from Musk to Reform are on ice.

Since his conference with Farage, Musk has increasingly taken an earnings in UK politics – focusing on criticism of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Musk has spent the week amplifying calls by Reform UK and the Conservative event for a national inquiry into grooming gangs.

The calls came after the government turned down a request to conduct an inquiry into historical cases of sexual abuse in Oldham, saying the council should navigator it instead.

This prompted Musk to accuse Sir Keir of failing to properly prosecute “rape gangs” while he was director of community prosecutions.

Musk also said Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips “deserves to be in prison” and called her a “rape genocide apologist”.

Asked about Musk’s comments on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Farage said the CEO had used “very tough terms, but that “free talk was back” on X under his ownership.

In 2022, an independent inquiry by Greater Manchester Combined Authority found that vulnerable children were left exposed to sexual exploitation in Oldham because of “solemn failings” by the police and council.

The government has rejected the calls for a national inquiry, instead asking Oldham Council to set up its own. The previous Conservative government turned down a similar request in 2022.

Phillips and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a note to the Conservatives that the local authority had already started setting up an inquiry.

The note also pointed to the 2022 kid Sexual Abuse Inquiry, which investigated abuse in worry homes, churches, homes or by grooming gangs.

The update knitted several previous inquiries into grooming gangs together, including in Rotherham, Rochdale and Telford, alongside its own investigations.

Speaking on Sunday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the government was prioritising “getting on with” implementing the update’s 20 recommendations to combat kid sexual abuse.

He told the BBC that Musk’s criticism of Phillips was a “disgraceful smear” and said “people like Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips have done the challenging yards of actually locking up wife beaters, rapists and paedophiles”.