Elon Musk vows to summon MPs to the US to explain censorship and threats to American citizens: Billionaire hits back at calls for him to testify in UK over Xs role in summer riots
Elon Musk has hit back at a suggestion MPs could summon him to Britain to give evidence about Xs role in promoting disinformation by threatening to ask them to come to the US to explain their censorship.
Elon Musk has hit back at a suggestion MPs could summon him to Britain to give evidence about Xs role in promoting disinformation by threatening to ask them to come to the US to explain their censorship.
The intervention is a fresh escalation in the billionaires war of words with Labour in the months before he prepares to take a major role in the new Trump administration.
A new inquiry by the Commons science and technology committee is examining the spread of harmful content on social media following the race riots in August.
Its Labour chai Chi Onwurah had said she hoped to ask Musk to testify before the committee so she could cross-examine him about how he reconciles his promotion of freedom of expression with his promotion of pure disinformation.
In response, Musk tweeted that MPs will be summoned to the United States of America to explain their censorship and threats to American citizens.
Buddy in chief Elon Musk with Donald Trump earlier this week at the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket
Mr Musk is a vocal critic of Labour and Sir Keir Starmer in particular. The Labour leader is seen leaving No 10 yesterday
The intervention is a fresh escalation in the billionaires war of words with Labour in the months before he prepares to take a major role in the new Trump administration next year
Ms Onwurah previously made her comments about summoning Musk to the Guardian earlier this week.
Technically, a witness refusing a request to attend a select committee could be held in contempt of Parliament.
Historically, those found guilty of contempt could be fined or imprisoned, but this has not happened since 1666 and 1880 consecutively, according to the Institute for Government.
Mr Musk is a vocal critic of Labour and Sir Keir Starmer in particular, with the billionaire attacking his response to the riots and most recently accusing him of going full Stalin over his inheritance tax raid on farmers.
It comes as Labour peer Lord Mandelson, who is the frontrunner to be Britains next ambassador to the US, urged Sir Keir to repair relations with Mr Musk in light of his increasing closeness to Mr Trump.
The businessman sparked a furious backlash by claiming that civil war is inevitable amid the violent chaos in British cities and towns.
He also branded the PM Two Tier Keir as he fuelled claims that UK police treat some groups more harshly than others.
But Mr Musk was left red-faced after being forced to retract false claims about Sir Keir setting up detainment camps in the Falkland Islands for rioters.
He was later said to be furious after being snubbed for a government investment summit.
Since Mr Trumps US election victory, Mr Musk has been appointed by the president-elect to jointly lead a new US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
He has become a prominent figure as Mr Trump prepares to return to the White House and has been dubbed the first buddy.
A recent survey by JL Partners found more Brits had a positive view of Elon Musk than Keir Starmer. Musks overall approval rating is -17 five points better than the Prime Minister on -22
Mr Musk previously branded the PM Two Tier Keir as he fuelled claims that UK police treat some groups more harshly than others
Mr Musk shared a doctored headline that falsely stated Sir Keir was considering building emergency prisons on the Falkland Islands for arrested rioters. The story was made up
Speaking to The Times podcast How To Win An Election, Lord Mandelson praised Mr Musk as a sort of technological, industrial, commercial phenomenon.
It would be unwise, in my view, for Britain to ignore him. You cannot pursue these feuds, the former Cabinet minister added.
You cant afford to do it. We should try and kick it into touch as soon as possible.
If I were the Government here, Id be asking the embassy in Washington DC to find out who his other British friends are. Who are they all?
And theyve got to be used, I think, as a bridge to Musk. And so thats what I would do.
You know, swallow your pride, find out who his friends are and try and get into those networks.
You cannot just continue this feud indefinitely. Youve got to get over it. Youve got to, hes got to be reintroduced to the British Government.
And one good way of doing that might be through some of his British friends, even if they are not, as I say, you know, bright red supporters of the Labour Government.
Asked if that included utilising Reform UK leader Nigel Farages relationship with Mr Trump and his allies, Lord Mandelson replied: Yes, I would include Nigel Farage.
I mean, you cant ignore him. I mean, hes an elected MP. Hes a public figure. Hes a bridgehead, both to President Trump and to Elon Musk and others.
Youve got to be pragmatic, practical about this. Youve got to work the national interest in and that national interest is served in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways.
Mr Trump and his daughter joining Mr Trump at Mar a Lago to meet Argentinian president Javier Milei
Mr Musk has become a prominent figure as Mr Trump prepares to return to the White House and has been dubbed the first buddy
Mr Farage is famously friendly with Mr Trump, with the former Brexit Party leader regularly speaking at his rallies and receiving adoring praise from the president-elect.
He was introduced to Mr Musk by Mr Trump in the run-up to the election, and described him to the FT as remarkably normal, affable, personable, amusing, opinionated and passionate.
The Brexiteer said he asked the billionaire, who was married twice to a British woman, why he had such an extraordinary interest in this little island.
He said Mr Musk told him the UK was the mother country of the entirety of the English speaking world, and that it really matters.
Mr Trump and Mr Musk have recently been pictured together with Argentinian President Javier Milei at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort
They have also attended an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bout together, before which they were pictured enjoying a McDonalds on Mr Trumps private plane.
And it was reported that Mr Musk joined Mr Trumps 25-minute call with Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky.
Lord Mandelson, a key architect of New Labour, is seen as the frontrunner to become the UKs top diplomat in Washington DC after the election of Mr Trump.
He is also among the final five candidates to be the new head of Oxford University, as he competes against other prominent ex-MPs for the prestigious role.
Lord Mandelson suggested using Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who is friendly with Mr Trump and his allies, as a bridge to Mr Musk
The Labour peer has previously insisted - if he were to be appointed to the two roles - they were not incompatible with each other.
Speaking at a press conference at the G20 summit in Brazil last night, Sir Keir refused to be drawn on whether he would follow Lord Mandelsons advice about Mr Musk.
I make no comment about appointments, the PM said of reports linking the Labour peer to the US ambassadorship.
In relation to relations with the US, obviously it is an important relationship for us.
Historically the US-UK relationship has been a special relationship for a reason, forged in difficult circumstances and as important today as it has ever been.
In forging that relationship I have obviously spent time with President-elect Trump back in September when I was in New York and we had dinner together, and then spoken to him on the phone.
I think that is right in terms of building a relationship as we go forward.
