George Osborne, the former UK chancellor and current chair of the British Museum, recently said he believed no one would find out about a private viewing of the Bayeux Tapestry he arranged for tech billionaire Peter Thiel. The event took place during Osborne’s holiday, and Thiel, a prominent supporter of Donald Trump, was shown the medieval artwork at the museum. The viewing was held before the tapestry’s public opening on 18 August and was later revealed by the Guardian. Peter Thiel is the founder of PayPal and Palantir, a software company that creates data integration, analytics, and artificial intelligence tools for government and corporate clients. Palantir has several high-profile contracts in the UK, including a £330 million agreement with the National Health Service (NHS) since 2023. The company also provides services to the US, Israeli, and UK militaries. Its use of AI software for military operations in regions like Gaza and Iran, as well as its involvement in US immigration enforcement and access to NHS data, has sparked controversy and concern. Osborne was asked what the museum might have received in exchange for the private viewing. He said, “The short answer is he hasn’t offered any money, and were he to offer money, the board would consider it and have to take into account the pros, you know, receiving more income, and the reputational risks.” Osborne emphasized that the museum’s board would weigh both financial benefits and potential backlash from the public. Osborne, who lives in Bruton, near the Big Brue festival where he made these comments, expressed frustration over how the British Museum is perceived in relation to political issues. He noted that protests at the museum have shifted from climate-related concerns to those focused on the Israel-Gaza conflict. He defended the museum’s need to accept funding from various sources, including companies like BP, to remain operational. Osborne argued that rejecting all forms of corporate funding, including from tech or energy firms, would risk the museum’s survival. “You cannot say we want museums to be free, and then one of the biggest British companies offers us £50m, BP, and we go, oh, don’t, because we object to oil exploration. Where is the money going to come from?” he said.