Former British chancellor George Osborne has defended a private viewing of the Bayeux Tapestry organized for tech billionaire Peter Thiel at the British Museum, saying he had assumed the visit would remain confidential. Osborne, who is chair of the museum, made the remarks at the Big Brue festival in Somerset, where he explained that the viewing occurred while he was on holiday.

Peter Thiel, a prominent supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, is known for founding PayPal and Palantir Technologies, a software company providing data integration, analytics, and artificial intelligence tools to governments and large corporations. Palantir holds numerous public contracts in the UK, including a significant £330 million agreement with the National Health Service (NHS) secured in 2023. The company also serves the military sectors of the US, Israel, and the UK.

Palantir has drawn controversy for its involvement in military operations, including reportedly supporting strikes in Gaza and Iran, as well as participating in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Concerns have also been raised over the company’s access to sensitive NHS data through its AI-powered platforms.

Osborne acknowledged that the visit was not intended to be publicized. He noted that the museum’s director of development, Charlotte Appleyard, hosted Thiel at a VIP preview of the tapestry before it opened to the general public on August 18. When asked if the museum had received any financial contribution in exchange for facilitating the visit, Osborne stated, “The short answer is he hasn’t offered any money.” He added that any potential offers would be carefully considered by the museum’s board, weighing both financial benefits and reputational risks.

Addressing criticism surrounding Thiel’s support for the Israeli government, Osborne said the British Museum is often treated as a diplomatic institution—an analogy he rejects. He noted that since his appointment five years ago, public demonstrations at the museum had shifted from climate activism to issues related primarily to Gaza.

Osborne further defended the museum’s funding practices, emphasizing the necessity of accepting money from corporations with controversial reputations to maintain operations. He cited BP’s £50 million offer as an example and questioned how the museum could remain financially viable if it rejected donations from sectors such as technology, oil, or banking. “You can’t say we want museums to be free, and then refuse money from companies because of objections to their activities,” he said. “The museum would shut down.”

Osborne’s comments highlight the ongoing challenges museums face in balancing financial sustainability with ethical considerations amid increasing public scrutiny.