Elon Musk was elected to the Royal Society in 2018, joining the ranks of Einstein, Darwin, and Newton. However, growing concerns about his behavior, especially his inflammatory posts on X, have led to calls for his removal. Ross Andersen argues that Musk should be expelled from the prestigious scientific institution due to his harmful influence on science. In 2023, 74 fellows wrote to the Royal Society’s leadership expressing concern that Musk’s social media activity, which included misinformation about vaccines and derogatory comments about scientists like Anthony Fauci, was damaging the institution’s reputation. By early 2024, over 3,400 scientists, including more than 60 Royal Society fellows, had signed an open letter demanding his expulsion.  

The Royal Society has yet to take disciplinary action, possibly out of a desire to avoid political entanglement. Throughout history, scientific institutions have struggled with political pressures. In some cases, ideological interference led to severe consequences, such as the persecution of scientists during the Cold War or China’s Cultural Revolution. The issue is not merely his political views but his active role in dismantling key scientific institutions.  

Since Trump’s 2024 election, Musk has aligned himself with the administration, advocating for deep budget cuts to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH). These unprecedented reductions threaten American scientific progress. Ironically, Musk’s own success with SpaceX was made possible by government funding and long experimental phases—precisely the kind of research now at risk. While scientists have little political power, they can still revoke the honors they once bestowed on Musk. By allowing him to retain his Royal Society fellowship, they risk legitimizing a figure who is actively undermining their field. If Musk is intent on tearing down scientific institutions, the least they can do is take back his “medal.”