Elon Musk Has Turned His Eye to the UK

Loves Elon Musk Responding to X’s posts with heart emojis He’s sent dozens this year alone, often in response to people Admire his car or directly to him mom’s post.

But this week, Musk sent a heart emoji to far-right Islamophobic activist Tommy Robinson in the United Kingdom. However, Musk largely ignored UK politics while serving in the US government this year The so-called government efficiency department (DOGE), he seems to be back across the pond spending his money and using his platform to promote far-right extremists.

“Big thanks to @EllenMask today. Legend,” Robinson wrote Monday, after the first day of his two-day trial on charges related to anti-terror laws at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London. Robinson claimed this week that Musk financed his defense.

Robinson, whose real name was Stephen Yaxley-Lennon Charged under the Terrorism Act After he refused to give police access to his cell phone when he tried to leave the UK in July 2024. Prosecutor Joe Morris told the judge This week police believed the phone “may have contained information relevant to an act of terrorism” at the time. Robinson pleaded not guilty and claimed the stop was illegal. A verdict in the case is expected next month.

In a video posted on X before the trial this week, Robinson said Musk had agreed to fund his defense. Robinson did not say how much Musk contributed to his defense fund, but Mark Stephens, a prominent British lawyer who has served as Julian Assange’s legal counsel in the past, told Wired that Musk’s bill “would easily come to half a million pounds” if he covered Robinson’s entire defense. [$665,000]Maybe more with the appeal.”

Robinson and Musk did not respond to requests for comment.

musk Endless posts about British politics At the beginning of the year, until his focus was swallowed by DOGE. But, follow him stormy exit From Washington, Musk’s focus on Europe is causing chaos again. Wired analyzed data provided by BrightData that showed a significant dropoff in the number of posts about masks in the UK after January this year. after that DOGE left in MayMusk’s posts about the UK increased dramatically again in August.

Experts believe that Musk’s current support for the UK’s far right is part of a possible concerted effort to politically destabilize the region – such as the EU’s Digital Services Act or the UK’s Online Security Act – being used to punish.