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People in Kent have told Elon Musk to keep his “hands off our English Channel” after he said it should be rechristened.
The multi-billionaire suggested this in a post on his social media site X on Sunday, showing a mock-up map of the sea with the suggested name, the George Washington Channel.
It was captioned: “New name for the water that separates England and France.”
But people KentOnline spoke to in Dover town centre and on the seafront today firmly rejected the idea.
Maureen Hearn said: “I think it’s a ridiculous idea. He needs to concentrate on America and leave Britain alone.”
Deborah Hughes said: “I think Elon Musk needs to go away and leave our Channel as it is. It is an English Channel and it should stay English.
“He’s a worldwide person but he shouldn’t have all the control over the world. We’re British, that’s our English Channel, it has been for centuries - so Elon Musk can leave us alone.”
Michelle Roberts, who lives in Deal, said: “I think it’s a stupid idea, he's not British so he needs to stay over on his side and let us have the English Channel. That’s ours. “
Another man, who did not want to be named, said: “I don’t understand that idea. I’m not sure George Washignton would have cared much about the Channel anyway. It’s not something that makes much sense.”
Musk’s post comes after a recent suggestion by his friend, US President Donald Trump, to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.
It is not the first time Musk has got himself involved in UK matters.
Just recently he criticised the British government over the question of a full new inquiry concerning child grooming gangs.
Musk, the richest person in the world, completed his acquisition of Twitter in 2022 and renamed it X.
This month business magazine Forbes estimated his wealth to be 427 billion US dollars, equal to £343.74 billion.
George Washington helped bring about America’s independence from the British Empire in the 18th century. He was the country’s first president, from from 1789 to 1797.