Name: Musk unleashes social media smear campaign against British PM
Uploaded: 2025-01-08T05:14:49.321Z
Duration: 2 min 6 s
Description: Elon Musk, adviser to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, unleashed a social media smear campaign against British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as part of a series of posts aimed at political leaders in Europe.

Elon Musk, adviser to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, unleashed a social media smear campaign against British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as part of a series of posts aimed at political leaders in Europe.

London

Donald Trump is preparing to take office after defeating Kamala Harris in the U.S. Presidential election.

U.S. Presidential Elect

Elon Musk, a well-known technology figure and advisor to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, has directed his attention to political figures in Europe. His recent social media activities include a series of posts criticizing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Musk has accused Starmer, who previously served as Britain's Chief Prosecutor, of being involved in serious crimes—a claim that was not supported by an inquiry in 2022. The inquiry identified failings in local government responses to child exploitation cases but did not implicate Starmer.

Observers have expressed concern about Musk's involvement in European politics, particularly in Britain, suggesting his actions may be intended to destabilize the UK government. Musk's posts have stirred political tensions, as they have coincided with a sensitive chapter in UK history regarding cases of child sexual exploitation. It's noted that the inquiry's head emphasized the need for systemic improvements rather than political distractions.

Musk's social media activities have also drawn attention in other parts of Europe. French President has accused him of interfering with electoral processes, claiming Musk has shown support for Germany's far-right political party. European leaders, including Starmer, face dilemmas in responding to Musk due to his influence in the U.S., as countering Musk's claims could potentially strain relations with the incoming American administration.



Musk unleashes social media smear campaign against British PM

Not content with having the ear of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump tech gazillionaire Elon Musk is now on a tear trying to disrupt politics in Europe, especially Britain. In social media posts, Musk has repeatedly smeared Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying he should be jailed and wrongly accusing him of being complicit in mass rapes when he was the country's chief prosecutor. We've seen this playbook many times whipping up of intimidation and threats of violence hoping that the media will amplify it. Musk has inflamed an ugly chapter of recent U.K. history where thousands of children were sexually exploited by gangs of mostly British Pakistani men. An inquiry in 2022 found fault with local authorities but not Starmer. The head of that probe says victims want action to fix the system, not distractions. Certainly been very unhappy about the the politicization of child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse in the way that many people sometimes in a very uninformed way have waded into the argument. This veteran political watcher says the intervention by the world's richest man into British politics is unprecedented. His goal seems to be to destabilize the British government but also I think to emphasize to Donald Trump that this is not an administration that he wants to be friends with. And it's not just Britain. France's president claims Musk is interfering in elections including siding with Germany's far-right party. But for Starmer and other European leaders, firing back at Musk comes with risks. As one of Donald Trump's most influential advisors, offending him could turn the incoming U.S. president against them as well. Chris Brown, CBC News, London.

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