Elon Musk and Nigel Farage will meet at a soiree that is expected to draw 400 prominent figures, including the president-elect, members of the Trump family, British MPs, and foreign dignitaries
Elon Musk and Nigel Farage will come face-to-face tonight for the first time since the billionaire said the Reform UK leader “did not have what it takes” to lead the party.
The meeting will take place at the Stars, Stripes, and Union Jack party, a high-profile event hosted at the Hay Adams Hotel in Washington, DC, just days before Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The soiree is expected to draw 400 prominent figures, including the president-elect, members of the Trump family, British MPs, and foreign dignitaries. The guest list also includes political heavyweights like Britain’s incoming ambassador to the US, Lord Peter Mandelson.
Despite speculation of a rift between Musk and Farage, sources close to both insist their relationship remains intact. “They’re friends and always will be,” an insider said, downplaying recent tensions as political theatre.
However, another added: “It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out. Everyone knows what Elon said about Nigel, so the whole room will be looking out for their interactions.”
Farage will host tonight’s event, which has been funded by his longtime Brexiteer allies Arron Banks, Andy Wigmore, and US businessman Gerry Gunster. However, the event was thrown into turmoil after Banks and Wigmore – dubbed the “bad boys of Brexit” – had their US entry visas blocked, prompting a frantic last-minute effort by the Trump team to secure their admission.
Banks, a key donor to the Brexit campaign, expressed his dismay at the decision. “I am shocked that the US embassy has blocked our visa to the US,” he said. “This is a political decision and revenge for the failed Russia Hoax perpetrated on both sides of the Atlantic.”
The timing of the visa revocation has raised eyebrows, particularly as the event is set to celebrate the “special relationship” just three days before Trump’s inauguration. The event also marks the 60th US presidential inauguration.
Organiser Gerry Gunster emphasised the significance of the occasion. “We are proud to host this event for the second time at the Hay-Adams. It’s an honour to welcome Nigel Farage and reaffirm the importance of the bond between the United States and the United Kingdom,” he said.
With exclusive access granted by invitation only, the event has become a focal point for British companies eager to connect with Trump’s team.
Automated Analytics, an AI firm, is among the businesses represented, underscoring the push for deeper economic collaboration. Musk is reported to be keen to meet the Yorkshire company, which is creating the world’s first artificial intelligence cloud data centre powered by renewable energy windmills off the coast of the Humber.
