Elon Musk calls for Nigel Farage to be replaced as leader of Reform UK

The Tesla owner called out the British politician on his own social media platform.

The world's richest man, who is set to join president-elect Donald Trump's administration when he takes over from Joe Biden in January, took to his own social media platform earlier today to criticise the man responsible for Brexit.

The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 5, 2025

"The Reform Party needs a new leader," posted Musk on X. "Farage doesn’t have what it takes."

Musk's statement comes just hours after Farage described the Space X founder as a "friend" in an interview on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, and just weeks after reports suggested the multi-billionaire was in talks to donate to the right-wing British party.

Along with the denunciation of Farage, the tech billionaire endorsed Conservative party leader Badenoch, who has spent just two months in charge of the party.

Good for Kemi Badenoch! https://t.co/bxIj4Fmwle

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 5, 2025

The Wimbledon native took over as leader of the opposition last November, after former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stepped down.

Farage has maintained a longstanding friendship with Donald Trump, with the 45th President of the United States congratulating the 60-year-old on obtaining a seat in parliament last summer.

The former GB News broadcaster founded Reform UK in 2018, then called the Brexit Party, and returned as the party's leader before being elected as an MP in 2024.

Musk had previously heaped praise on Farage, urging people to “vote Reform”, and calling the party the UK’s “only hope”.

He has repeatedly posted about UK politics following Labour's election win last July, from Sir Keir Starmer’s response to the summer riots to the country’s tax policy.

Over the past few days alone, he has posted dozens of times about the historic scandal surrounding sexual grooming gangs in the north of England, mainly about the failings of the UK in holding perpetrators to account.

On Friday, Musk claimed Starmer was “complicit in the rape of Britain”, in reference to the now-prime minister’s oversight of the UK’s prosecution office when evidence of the gangs came to light last decade.