How Trump and Musk's interventions prompt fresh diplomatic challenge

Elon Musk and Donald Trump are two influential figures who are once again stirring up political discussions. Recently, they were seen together at the launch of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas, on November 19, 2024. During Trump's first term as president, governments around the world were always on alert, waiting for his morning social media posts. They were concerned about what policies he might change or what insults he might throw at others. Now, four years later, diplomats are feeling anxious again when they wake up in the morning. They remember the saying that you should take Trump seriously but not literally. Despite many campaign promises, he did not follow through on all of them, such as withdrawing the US from NATO or imprisoning Hilary Clinton. But can government officials remain calm and composed this time around? Recently, Trump criticized the UK government for its decision to raise taxes on oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea. This tax increase is partly intended to help fund renewable energy initiatives. On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump reacted to a report about a US oil company leaving the region, stating, 'The U. K. is making a very big mistake. Open up the North Sea. Get rid of Windmills! ' This raises the question: is Trump merely defending a US company, or is he showing a greater willingness to intervene in the domestic policies of an ally? The significant difference this time is that Trump is not alone in his commentary. His increasingly powerful ally, Elon Musk, is also making headlines. Musk uses his platform, X, to criticize the British government on various issues, including its handling of last summer's riots, the state of the economy, and particularly its approach to child abuse scandals. Musk has been vocal in his criticism, even targeting UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally, accusing him of not doing enough to prosecute child grooming gangs during his time as the director of public prosecutions. British politicians find it challenging to control these posts coming from across the Atlantic, but they can manage their responses. During Trump's first term, governments and news organizations learned to pause and think before reacting to his social media messages. So far, the Conservative Party has chosen to engage with and echo Musk's agenda. Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called for a full national inquiry into organized grooming gangs. However, the Conservatives have hesitated to embrace Musk's apparent support for the jailed far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson. Musk has shared several posts on X advocating for Yaxley-Lennon's release after he was found guilty of contempt of court for spreading false claims about a Syrian refugee. Alicia Kearns, the Conservative shadow safeguarding minister, described Musk's actions as 'frankly dangerous' for 'lionizing people like Tommy Robinson. ' On the other hand, the Labour Party seems eager to avoid a confrontation with Musk, who is one of the wealthiest individuals in the world and could potentially fund a rival political party. Nigel Farage's Reform Party has mentioned that Musk is among 'a number of billionaires' interested in donating to their campaigns. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has expressed concern over Musk's comments regarding child grooming scandals but has asked the billionaire to collaborate with the UK government to address online child abuse. Musk's comments are not limited to UK politicians; he has also criticized Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, calling him a 'fool,' and referred to the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as 'an anti-democratic tyrant. ' Additionally, he labeled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as 'an insufferable tool' who 'won't be in power for much longer. ' This situation presents a challenge for politicians in the UK and around the world as they try to determine which of Musk's social media outbursts warrant a response. In Whitehall, there is some hope that the new British ambassador might help reduce the flow of personal attacks coming from across the Atlantic. There is also some belief that Trump has a fondness for the UK and the Royal Family, as he had a positive meeting with the Prince of Wales in Paris last December. Some officials are even speculating that the relationship between Trump and Musk could become too volatile while they are in office. For now, officials are closely monitoring their social media timelines. US social media diplomacy is back, and some of it is directed towards the UK.