Elon Musk has shared an England flag on his X profile in an apparent nod of support towards a campaign to fly British and English national colours in towns and cities across the country in recent weeks. The South African tech billionaire, 54, who has paternal English relatives from Liverpool, shared a picture of the St George’s flag on his social media profile, which has more than 224 million followers.
Musk has since reposted a mention from news site Visegrád 24, which captioned his earlier flag post with the words “Operation Raise the Colours has reached America”. The Tesla and SpaceX founder has followed his England flag post with further mentions detailing a rise in “violence and sexual assaults on women” on British trains. In a flurry of postings, Musk has also retweeted former Reform UK, now Independent MP, Rupert Lowe, who mentions a rape gang inquiry.
Musk shares the MP’s comments with his own caption: “85 cities in Britain where local authorities were complicit in the rape of children …”. Musk’s plethora of comments on X comes as he reportedly tries to cosy up to the White House once more after a spectacular fallout with President Donald Trump earlier this year.
In recent weeks, English and British flags have been attached to lampposts and street furniture in towns and cities across the UK in a campaign dubbed “Operation Raise the Colours.”
However, some local councils, including Birmingham and Tower Hamlets, have sparked anger after they began removing the national symbols for “health and safety” reasons. As well as draping flags from lampposts, campaigners have also been spray painting white areas of roundabouts and pedestrian crossings with red England crosses.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said it is “shameful” of councils to remove St George’s Cross flags, as she claimed local rules were being enforced “selectively”. She said the flying of English flags should be “welcomed”, rather than “seen as an act of rebellion”.
She added: “After years of politicisation by those who seek to diminish England’s culture and Christian heritage, it is encouraging to see English flags flown proudly as symbols of unity, nationhood and optimism.”
Worcestershire’s Reform UK-run county council said it would not remove St George flags.
And Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who has enjoyed an on-off relationship with Elon Musk, has supported the flag-flaying movement, saying: “Union flags and the Cross of St George should and will fly across the country. Reform UK will never shy away from celebrating our nation.”
Downing Street, which has previously clashed with Elon Musk over his comments on UK politics, said the Prime Minister is “absolutely” supportive of people who put up English flags.
Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said: “I think the PM has always talked about his pride of being British, the patriotism he feels.”
