By Catarina Demony
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Elon Musk's self-described “rape advocate” said on Tuesday the American billionaire knew “absolutely nothing” about child sex abuse proposals he had recently discussed.
Musk, an ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, spent days posting messages on his social media site X accusing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer of failing to prosecute gangs of men who raped teenage girls when Starmer was director of public prosecutions between 2008 and 2008. 2013.
Musk also attacked Starmer's defense minister Jess Phillips, describing him as a “rape advocate” who should be in jail. Phillips has spent much of her career working with victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking.
Musk and opposition politicians called for a new national investigation after Phillips told the city council where sexual harassment cases were reported that it should hold its own investigation.
Some research into child abuse allegations has been carried out in different areas in the north of England. A comprehensive public inquiry into child sexual abuse, including in churches and schools, is due in 2022, making a number of recommendations that have yet to be implemented.
Starmer defended his job as Britain's top prosecutor on Monday, addressing Musk's criticism and saying “those who spread lies and misinformation … are not interested in the victims, they are interested in them”.
Speaking to the broadcaster ITV (LON:), Phillips said Musk's comments, which he described as “ridiculous”, had turned “the world upside down”.
“It's not a good thing and what really annoys me is that it's taking so much long distance from a man who knows absolutely nothing about the subject he's talking about,” said Phillips.
Sky News reported on Monday that a man had been charged following threats made to Phillips. Devon Police and Cornwall Police confirmed that the man was charged with three counts of contact between April 2024 and January 2025 but did not name the victims.
In another interview with Sky News, Phillips said that he has dedicated his life to fighting child abuse and that it is “painful” to watch “political football”.
Responding to Starmer's criticism, Musk said the prime minister was “involved in mass rape by changing votes”, adding: “That's what the investigation will show.”