The most senior judge in NSW says Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have been emboldened and empowered by the election of Donald Trump to act in ways that only further their interests and risk social cohesion.

In a significant speech on Thursday evening, Supreme Court Chief Justice Andrew Bell accused the chief executive of Tesla of inflaming antisemitism with his endorsement of far-right political parties and “flippant” references to senior Nazi figures, as he warned of a threat to the rule of law.