Elon Musk said Reform UK donation may be difficult with Donald Trump in office

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Elon Musk has privately downplayed the chances of making a donation to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, telling an associate it will not be easy to give money to the British party after he joined 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 because of the tech billionaire’s role running a waste-cutting unit in the new administration.

Though Musk met Farage in December at Mar-a-Lago, the pair did not meet again when the Reform leader travelled to Washington, DC, for Trump’s inauguration, said two people familiar with the matter.

Musk has dramatically intervened in UK politics in recent months, proclaiming Reform as the country’s “only hope” and frequently criticising Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Last month, Farage said the X owner and Tesla boss was giving “serious thought” to a donation to Reform. The UK’s lax rules on political donations allow foreign-owned entities — such as Musk’s X subsidiary in the UK — to give unlimited amounts to British parties.

But the pair have since clashed over Musk’s support for the far-right agitator and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson, who is in prison for contempt of court in relation to Robinson’s libel of a Syrian refugee.

Earlier this month Musk called for Farage to be replaced as leader of Reform, posting on X that the veteran politician did not “have what it takes”, and suggesting alternatives, including Rupert Lowe, another Reform MP.

Farage has cultivated ties with Trump, appearing at his rallies in the past. Though he was not invited to the Capitol Rotunda for Monday’s ceremony, he did attend several parties around the event, including an official post-inauguration ball.

Musk did not attend an inauguration party hosted by Brexit-backing businessmen Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore — allies of Farage — in Washington on Friday, sending a close associate instead.

Musk has been tasked by Trump with leading the cost-cutting “Department for Government Efficiency”, or DOGE, which will sit inside an existing federal agency.

There is no US law preventing Musk from contributing financially to Reform, and he still may decide to make a donation. However, a financial gift by a senior figure within the Trump administration to a British opposition party would potentially generate diplomatic tensions between the US and UK, which are close allies.

Speculation that Musk could make a donation of up to $100mn following a media report in November has given the UK rightwing party momentum as it rises in the polls and attracts some low-level defections from the Conservatives, the UK’s largest rightwing party and official opposition. 

A spokesperson for Reform confirmed that Musk had not made a donation 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.