In it, Musk condemns Farage

It was a sharp reversal even for the easy-come, easy-go nature of alliances in the political orbit of President-elect Donald J. Trump.

Elon Musk, Mr Trump’s billionaire benefactor, has for weeks embraced British populist politician Nigel Farage, promoting his insurgent, anti-immigrant Reform UK party as a response to Britain’s problems.

But on Sunday Mr. Musk wrote“The Reform Party needs a new leader. Faraj doesn’t have what he needs.”

Mr. Musk did not explain his change of heart. But it appears to be due to Mr Farage’s refusal to back Mr Musk’s demand that far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson be released from prison. Mr Farage has distanced himself from Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and who, in addition to his history of Islamophobic statements, has had several criminal convictions.

“Well, it’s a surprise!” a diligent shredder Mr Farage posted an hour after Mr Musk. “Elon is a great personality, but I’m afraid I don’t agree. My opinion is that Tommy Robinson is not fit for reform, and I never sell my principles.”

Mr Musk’s break with Mr Farage marked a new twist in what has been an increasingly harsh, misinformation-filled standoff for days. posts about Britain from Mr. MuskIt seems that he intends to have the same effect in European countries as he did during the presidential elections in America.

He falsely accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of failing to pursue child abusers when he was head of public prosecutions. And he approved a post calling on King Charles III to dissolve parliament and call an election to topple Britain’s Labor government, which is constitutionally impossible.

Mr Musk took aim at Britain after boosting the far-right Alternative for Germany party in Germany. In Britain, where Mr Musk has criticized the Labor government for cracking down on online hate speech, among other things, Mr Farage appeared to have shut down Mr Musk’s support.

But Mr Farage seems to have noticed a problem with Mr Robinson. Speaking to the BBC on Sunday Before Mr Musk’s post, he described the tech billionaire as a “friend” and a “hero” of free speech. But he added that just because Mr Musk “supports me politically and supports Reform doesn’t mean I have to agree with every statement he makes about X”.

Mr Farage campaigned for Mr Trump and made a pilgrimage to his Palm Beach estate, Mar-a-Lago. But Mr. Musk has not shied away from clashing even with longtime allies of Mr. Trump. His support for visas for tech workers has put him at odds with some Trump supporters, including Stephen K. Bannon, who has accused him of betraying Mr. Trump’s “America First” credo.

A falling out between Mr Musk and Mr Farage could have unintended consequences for both men. Mr Farage, who won a parliamentary seat last July after eight attempts, is an accomplished politician who has ridden the populist tide for decades. While Mr Musk’s posts have attracted a lot of attention, the number of X users in Britain has fallen since he took over.

Mr Musk is seen flirting with another reformist member of parliament, Rupert Lowe. In response to a post on whether to replace Mr Farage as party leader, Mr. Musk wrote“I haven’t met Rupert Lowe, but what I’ve read of him online so far makes a lot of sense.”

The most immediate impact of Mr Musk’s rebuke is likely to be Reform UK’s fundraising. When asked during a BBC interview whether he expected Mr Musk to donate, he replied: “He might; can do well. But it must be legal; he should be comfortable with that.”