More than than 3,300 scientists also put their names to a letter, written by Prof Stephen Curry, emeritus professor of structural biology at Imperial College London, who is not a fellow, that expressed "deep concern" about the billionaire's fellowship and the society's "continued silence and apparent inaction" with regard to the controversy.

Elon Musk may not be a Cabinet member, but his importance to President Donald Trump’s second administration was apparent during the first meeting of Trump’s department and agency heads. Although Trump used the meeting as an opportunity to respond to reporters’ questions for 50 minutes,

Elon Musk has taken to social media to support his pal Donald Trump after he clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a tense White House meeting.