Elon Musk has turned his eyes to the UK

Elon Musk likes to respond to posts on X with a heart emoji. He’s sent dozens this year alone, often in response to people Praising his cars Or directly to him Mother’s posts.

But this week, Musk sent a heart emoji to Tommy Robinson, a far-right anti-Islam activist from the United Kingdom. Although Musk has largely ignored UK politics this year while working for the US government The so-called Government Efficiency Department (DOGE), appears to be back across the pond, spending his money and using his platform to elevate right-wing extremists.

“Thank you so much to @elonmusk today. Legend,” Robinson books On Monday, following the first day of his two-day trial on charges related to the Anti-Terrorism Act at Westminster Magistrates Court in London. Robinson claimed this week that Musk funded his defense.

It was Robinson, whose real name was Stephen Yaxley-Lennon Charged under the terrorism law After he refused to allow police access to his cell phone in July 2024 while trying to leave the UK. Prosecutor Joe Morris He told the judge Police this week believed there “may be information relevant to terrorist acts” on the phone at the time. Robinson pleaded not guilty and claimed the stop was illegal. A decision in this case is scheduled to be issued next month.

In a video posted on X ahead of 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 Stevens, a prominent British lawyer who in the past served as Julian Assange’s legal advisor, told WIRED that if he covered Robinson’s defense in full, Musk’s bill would “easily reach half a million pounds ($665,000), and possibly more with appeals.”

Robinson and Musk did not respond to requests for comment.

Musk Published frequently on British politics At the beginning of the year even DOGE ran out of focus. But, after him Asif’s departure From Washington, Musk’s focus on Europe is creating chaos once again. WIRED analyzed data provided by BrightData that shows a significant decline in the number of posts made by Musk about the UK after January of this year. After he He left DOGE in MayMusk’s posts about the UK increased dramatically again in August.

Experts believe Musk’s continued support for the far-right in the UK is part of a potentially concerted effort to politically destabilize the region to prevent burdensome regulations – such as the EU’s Digital Services Act or the UK’s Online Safety Act – from being used to punish X.