Elon Musk to fund UK far-right ringleader Tommy Robinson’s legal fight, supporters claim

LONDON — Elon Musk has agreed to pay legal fees racked up by jailed British far-right agitator Tommy Robinson, Robinson’s representatives have claimed.

In a message posted to supporters on Telegram Monday, first reported by the i newspaper, Robinson’s team said it was “grateful to Elon Musk and his team at X for agreeing to provide support to Tommy Robinson for two specific legal cases.”

Robinson, who co-founded the race-baiting and now-defunct English Defense League party, was jailed in 2024 after breaching a court order imposed over his repeated libeling of a Syrian refugee schoolboy.

The 41-year-old, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has also been charged with a terrorism offense after refusing to surrender his phone to police, and is challenging his treatment in prison on human rights grounds.

Robinson’s representatives said on Telegram that Musk “and his team are only involved in these two cases” and that no discussions had taken place with the X owner and Donald Trump appointee over Robinson’s wider legal battles.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Elon and his team for their unexpected and generous assistance with these cases,” the statement added. “Tommy is immensely grateful for their support, which came as a complete surprise.”

Musk has yet to publicly comment on the claim. A representative for X was not immediately available for comment.

Musk has previously called for Robinson to be released from prison, calling on British authorities to “Free Tommy Robinson” from his X platform.

He publicly demanded the ouster of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage — previously an ally who had hoped for donations from Musk — after Farage distanced his right-wing challenger party from Robinson and said he would refuse to admit the activist as a member.