European leaders have voiced increasing frustration with tech billionaire Elon Musk as tensions rise between the British government and the close ally of US president-elect Donald Trump.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Musk’s recent inflammatory posts on X (formerly Twitter) regarding historical child sex offences in northern England. Starmer accused those spreading “lies and misinformation” and sharply rebuked Musk for suggesting he was “deeply complicit in the mass rapes” of vulnerable girls during his tenure as the UK’s top prosecutor, calling Musk’s claims “utterly despicable.”
French President Emmanuel Macron also weighed in, accusing Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, of “directly intervening in elections,” including in Germany.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz joined the criticism, denouncing Musk for his support of the far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store expressed concern over Musk’s interference in European politics, emphasizing the troubling impact of his vast wealth and influence.
Musk’s recent focus on the UK has centered on the grooming gang scandals from the 2008-2013 period, which occurred during Starmer’s tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions.
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The controversy revolves around the abuse of girls in northern towns like Rochdale, Rotherham, and Oldham, where perpetrators, mostly of South Asian origin, were convicted.
The victims were largely vulnerable, white girls, and investigations found failures by police and social workers, in some cases, due to fears of racial stereotyping.
Musk’s comments have posed a serious challenge for Starmer’s government, which is trying to balance its relations with the incoming Trump administration while confronting the rise of far-right support.
Musk’s calls for a new public inquiry into the scandal have led some opposition figures in the UK to push for renewed investigations.
Starmer responded to Musk’s accusations, emphasizing that those spreading falsehoods were more interested in fueling self-interest than helping the victims.
He warned against the dangers of such divisive rhetoric, saying, “We’ve seen this playbook many times: whipping up intimidation and threats of violence, hoping the media will amplify it.”
Musk also lashed out at UK minister Jess Phillips, accusing her of being a “rape genocide apologist” after she opposed a government-led inquiry into the Oldham scandal, stating she “deserves to be in prison.”
Starmer has dismissed calls for a new inquiry, asserting that a previous independent investigation into the issue was thorough. He pointed to his record as a prosecutor, noting that he oversaw a historic number of child sexual abuse cases during his tenure.
However, Musk escalated the situation by accusing Starmer and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown of being complicit in the crimes. He claimed Brown had “sold those little girls for votes” in a controversial post.
Meanwhile, Musk’s stance on other political issues has also stirred controversy. Scholz criticized Musk for calling him an “incompetent fool” after Musk publicly supported the AfD party ahead of Germany’s snap elections.
Musk also surprised many in Britain by apparently retracting his support for Brexit advocate Nigel Farage, suggesting Farage’s Reform Party “needs a new leader.”
