In a dramatic and highly public series of exchanges, tech billionaire Elon Musk has found himself at the center of a political firestorm in the United Kingdom, drawing fierce condemnation from British politicians and igniting a spirited online backlash. The controversy, which has played out largely on Musk’s own social media platform X (formerly Twitter), comes in the wake of a series of inflammatory posts and speeches by Musk following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on a Utah college campus on September 10, 2025.
Since Kirk’s death, Musk has repeatedly urged his 226 million followers to “fight or die” in what he describes as a deepening cultural and political conflict. According to Reuters, Musk’s rhetoric has not only unsettled many in the United States but has also reverberated across the Atlantic. His posts—at times echoing white supremacist dog whistles and warnings of civil war—have included calls for the dissolution of the British Parliament, demands for the imprisonment of critics, and the endorsement of severe consequences for those who celebrated Kirk’s death.
The situation escalated further when Musk delivered a livestreamed speech to a far-right rally in London on September 13, 2025, where he declared, “violence is coming,” and called for new elections in the UK. The language used by Musk was swiftly condemned by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office, which described it as “dangerous and inflammatory language” that threatened “violence and intimidation on our streets.” The Prime Minister’s response underscored the gravity with which Musk’s comments were received at the highest levels of government.
Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, emerged as one of Musk’s most vocal critics. On September 16, 2025, Davey took to X to share a letter he had written to fellow party leaders Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch, and Nigel Farage. In the letter, Davey urged them to join him in condemning Musk’s conduct, which he described as “deliberately spreading misinformation, stoking anger and encouraging violence.” This direct appeal for cross-party unity against Musk’s rhetoric signaled the seriousness with which British politicians viewed the billionaire’s interventions.
Musk, never one to shy away from confrontation, responded to Davey’s post by calling him a “craven coward.” However, Davey was undeterred. Embracing a strategy of ridicule, he posted a SpongeBob meme mocking Musk, a move that quickly went viral and drew widespread attention. Social media users appeared to relish the sight of Musk being “bodied” on his own platform, with one quipping, “Imagine getting QT dunked by Ed Davey. Unrecoverable. You’re furious and he is serenely going down a log flume in Bognor Regis.” Another joked, “Elon is about to get ratioed on his own platform.”
In an interview on BBC Newsnight that same evening, Davey explained his approach: “One thing I think it’s good to do when you’re taking on opponents is ridicule them. Use laughter and humour to bring them down and show them for what they are.” The episode highlighted a distinctly British response to political provocation—using wit and satire as a tool for resistance.
But the online theatrics belied the underlying seriousness of Musk’s recent turn. In the days leading up to and following Kirk’s killing, Musk’s posts have become markedly more extreme. He has posted several times about changing racial demographics, expressing concern that “white people are a rapidly diminishing minority of global population,” and lamenting that “no one seems to care.” On August 29, he urged people in the UK and Ireland to “fight, fight, fight!” over immigration and cultural conflict, following up with, “Fight or die is what it comes down to.”
According to Reuters and other outlets, Musk’s rhetoric has included calls for the imprisonment of rapper Bobby Vylan for insulting Kirk after his death, public demands that tech executives deplatform or fire critics of Kirk, and accusations that the media and educational institutions are “programming people to murder.” On September 15 and 16, Musk targeted individuals who celebrated Kirk’s death, including leftist streamer Hasan Piker, urging severe consequences and bans from platforms. Musk even tagged Amazon executive chair Jeff Bezos, demanding action against Piker, who streams on Amazon-owned Twitch.
Musk’s shift has also seen him reverse his previously stated opposition to what is often derided as “cancel culture.” In August 2023, Musk pledged to pay legal bills for people who were unfairly treated by their employers for their activity on X. But in the aftermath of Kirk’s death, he has advocated for severe repercussions for anyone celebrating the killing, posting lists of people—teachers, nurses, and others—who allegedly made “vile” comments.
Experts have warned that such hypertoxic and violent language can, at times, spill over into real-world consequences, encouraging acts of vigilante violence. While there have been no further reports of violence since Kirk’s killing, the rhetoric has unsettled many and prompted calls for calm from elected officials across the political spectrum. In contrast, Musk has doubled down, posting, “Peace is not possible with people who revel in murder.”
Musk’s political future remains uncertain. After leaving his government role in May 2025 and feuding with former President Donald Trump, he has at times floated the idea of starting his own political party in the United States. For now, however, his focus seems fixated on a narrative of existential civilizational conflict, with little regard for the calls for unity or de-escalation coming from both sides of the Atlantic.
The episode has also reignited debate about the responsibility of social media platforms—and their owners—in moderating public discourse. As the owner of X and its most-followed account, Musk wields an unprecedented megaphone, capable of amplifying messages to hundreds of millions. Microsoft, for instance, was drawn into the fray after Musk publicly pressured CEO Satya Nadella to address employees’ comments about Kirk’s death. Microsoft responded on X: “Comments celebrating violence against anyone are unacceptable and do not align with our values.”
For many observers, the saga is emblematic of the new era of digital politics, where the world’s wealthiest individuals can shape public debate, provoke government responses, and even become the subject of viral ridicule. As one social media user put it, “Ed Davey vs Musk is going to be fun.” But behind the memes and mockery lies a serious question about the boundaries of free speech, the dangers of incendiary rhetoric, and the role of humor in defusing political tension.
As the dust settles, it is clear that the clash between Musk and his critics has become a defining moment in the ongoing struggle over the tone and direction of political discourse in both the UK and the US. Whether this episode marks a turning point or simply another chapter in the saga of online outrage remains to be seen, but the reverberations are sure to linger long after the memes fade from memory.