Elon Musk’s recent speech at a London rally has sparked concerns over his Royal Society fellowship.
Addressing the Unite the Kingdom rally organised by right-wing activist Tommy Robinson, he criticised “uncontrolled migration” and warned: “Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you.”
Sir Adrian Smith, president of the Royal Society, expressed unease about the language of violence in a letter to fellows. He highlighted the threat it posed to the Society’s values.
The letter, first reported by The New World, avoided naming Musk directly but referenced a Fellow of the Royal Society addressing a London rally.
Smith wrote: “Most of us have lived lives where core values of tolerance, courtesy, respect for others, and freedom of speech have been widely respected.” He warned that these values, essential for human understanding and science, now face real threats.
Musk, elected a fellow in 2018 for his work in space and electric vehicles, has faced mounting controversy. Earlier this year, thousands of scientists criticised his involvement in funding cuts to US research during his time in Trump’s government.
The Society debated his fellowship in March but chose to retain him. Some fellows argued that removal could appear as curtailing freedom of expression.
Any decision to revoke Musk’s fellowship would be historically significant. The last ejection occurred 250 years ago when German scientist Rudolf Erich Raspe was removed for theft and fraud.
The Society’s council will discuss the matter at its next meeting. Musk has been approached for comment via Tesla and SpaceX.
The situation highlights growing tensions between scientific prestige and public statements on politics and migration, raising difficult questions for one of the world’s oldest scientific institutions.
