ELON Musk has bizarrely called for the US to “liberate” the UK as he deepens his war of words against Keir Starmer – but how could this actually play out?
The world’s richest man Musk – a top ally of incoming US President Donald Trump – has been going to war with the Labour government with dozens of posts on X (formerly Twitter).
Elon Musk has built up a close friendship with Donald Trump with fears rising that an invasion of Britain may not be as farfetched as it seemsReuters
XMusk’s strange post on X appearing to incite a liberation[/caption]
He asked his 210million followers whether or not: “America should liberate Britain from their tyrannical government.”
At the time of publication, the vote was split 60/40 in favour of “liberation” after 15 hours and one million votes.
But what on earth would this zany and bizarre idea actually look like in practice?
And it comes after Trump’s team have already floated buying Greenland, making Canada the “51st state” and seizing the Panama Canal.
So while it seems totally outlandish – the MAGA alliance seems open to big brash ideas.
Professor Anthony Glees, a politics and security expert from the University of Buckingham, told The Sun that Musk’s approach is “madhouse politics”.
But despite he warned Britain should dismiss Musk “at our own peril”.
And he drew up three scenarios in which the US could be seen as “liberating” Britain.
This came in the form of political pressure fermenting a kind of revolution, trying to BUY the country, and the nearly totally unthinkable of military intervention.
The Tesla chief has built up a close friendship with incoming US president Trump – being instrumental in the campaign & believed to have a key role advising and working with the White House.
Britain and the US for now officially remain firm friends – with the so-called “special relationship” being one of the world’s strongest alliances.
But things could quickly sour further if Starmer cannot patch up his choppy relationship with Trump and Musk.
Musk has recently criticised Sir Keir’s government’s “failure” to launch an inquiry into grooming gangs.
His social media rambles could conceivably become White House policy if he continues to have Trump’s ear after the inauguration on January 20.
And right now – Trump and Musk seem to be inseparable.
Glees told The Sun: “It’s hard to explain. It’s almost irrational this kind of madhouse politics.
“He is an extremely rich man and above all he is about to become a key player in the United States Government when President Trump is inaugurated and therefore we will ignore Musk at our peril.”
Elon Musk has grown a close bond with incoming US President Donald TrumpAFP or licensors
PASir Keir Starmer is facing growing criticism over his government from Musk online[/caption]
What could the US pull off?
Despite Musk not likely to get his way the possibility of the US becoming involved in UK politics could happen in a number of ways, according to Glees.
He said: “I think there are three ways that this could become real.
“The first is that Trump offers to buy the United Kingdom.
“And if you look at the sums it’s not totally out of kilter as the UK is worth about $15 trillion and America’s net worth is like $124 trillion.
“So in theory, America is rich enough to buy us.
“I know that sounds completely ridiculous, but in a sense, it’s feasible due to his past.”
And the US famous purchased Alaska from Russia back in 1867 for the modern equivalent of $130million.
Trump has already made countless promises to his people and the world over what he plans to do as the leader of the free world.
Elon Musk’s recent social media outbursts
OVER the past few days Musk has hurled warnings at the UK government over a number of differences in opinion.
Musk’s main criticism of Sir Keir is a “failure” to launch an inquiry into grooming gangs.
In his escalating dispute with Sir Keir, Musk said the PM had failed to properly prosecute rape gangs while director of public prosecutions (DPP), and has repeatedly shared posts from MPs calling for a national inquiry.
The billionaire also suggested that Home Office minister Jess Phillips “deserves to be in prison” in a series of posts on X.
Calls for a national inquiry into the rape and abuse of thousands of girls across the country have grown in recent days.
Last week, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch emphasised the importance of an official Government-led probe.
The new Labour government faces mounting pressure to address the need for an investigation into the decade-long, large-scale abuse by paedophiles.
Farage had told the BBC support from Musk made the opposition challengers “look cool with huge numbers of young people”, describing him as “a hero”.
However, Farage said Space X and Tesla boss Musk was wrong about describing agitator Tommy Robinson as a political prisoner for speaking out about grooming gangs.
In response, an angered Musk said the Reform Party must find a new leader.
Musk had called Robinson a “political prisoner” – despite him actually being jailed for contempt of court.
Among his declarations to end the Ukraine war, restore peace in the Middle East and limit illegal immigration he has also made a number of strange vows.
He has previously made comments about taking Greenland, absorbing Canada and snatching the Panama Canal.
Last month, he mentioned a potential plan to turn his northern neighbours in Canada into the “51st State”.
On his social media he explained his desires to claim Ottawa as his own, saying: “No one can answer why we subsidize Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year?
“Makes no sense! Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State.
“They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it is a great idea. 51st State!!!”
Trump is also known to jokingly call Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “governor” when he speaks about him online.
Along with Canada, the proud Republican has also threatened to take back control of the Panama Canal and seize Greenland.
Both are not for sale and wouldn’t be offered up to the US but this hasn’t stopped Trump from pushing on with his agenda.
The US vs UK military comparisons
AMERICA’S military prowess is among the best in the world with their troops, weaponry and equipment all dwarfing the UK.
The US boast over 1.3 million active troops as well as 800,000 in reserve.
Britain’s small 148,000 active soldiers and just 37,000 reserve personnel are hugely outnumbered in comparison.
The same applies in almost every other area of the two nation’s war arsenals.
America has a vast number of tanks, armoured trucks, aircraft and naval fleets compared to their counterparts across the Atlantic.
Perhaps the most terrifying difference is how many more nuclear warheads the US possesses.
They own the second largest number of nukes in the world and sit only a few hundred behind Vladimir Putin‘s Russia.
The UK is said to have 225 at their disposal – over 4,800 less than America.
These worrying statistics would see the US seemingly dominate the UK if an invasion was ever set to take place between the two Western superpowers.
Another odd social media statement saw him say owning Greenland was an “absolute necessity” for his America.
In his first term in office Trump made references to controlling the island too.
Musk’s revolution?
The second possibility leans more towards Musk’s wishes as Glees feels if things continue to sour an “insurrection led by Elon” could be sparked.
This would be fuelled by his online criticisms and potentially see him ramp up enough fury across the Atlantic to push voters to start a “revolution” that could overthrown the government.
“It all sounds completely bad but this is the language that Musk is using,” Glees added.
“In politics words always matter and what people say always matters and has to be taken seriously.”
The third and final possibility is that Musk manages to convince Trump to stage a military coup on British soil and take the land by force.
This could see the US claim Britain as a colony of their own and give Trump the power to mould the country on his own terms.
This approach has led to some believing Trump’s “America First” promise could point towards him flexing his powerful might far beyond the US’s own borders.
And despite now being nearly completely unthinkable, war was once planned between the US and Britain back in the 1930s.
The US drew up “War Plan Red” as to how they would overthrow the British Empire.
Very much relative to its time period pre-WW2 – it involved the US invading Canada and then seizing British colonies.
Professor Glees said: “All of this sounds completely mad.
“And yet we’re dealing with a new president who is full of the strangest, weirdest ideas about all sorts of things and whispering in his ear is Elon Musk.”
Nigel Farage and Reform Party treasurer Nick Candy during a meeting with Elon Musk at Mar-A-Lago last month
AFPMusk and Trump have been inseparable in recent weeks[/caption]