Billionaire Elon Musk clapped back at Gov. Gavin Newsom after the announced move of his companies’ headquarters from California sparked a snarky and unprofessional retort from the Democrat.
The governor stooped to schoolyard taunts after the Tesla CEO responded to new gender identity laws in the Golden State by announcing he would be relocating his SpaceX and X headquarters to Texas.
Newsom signed AB 1955Â – also known as the Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth (SAFETY) Act – on Monday. The legislation prohibits “school districts from enacting forced outing policies,” and protects “teachers and school staff from retaliation if they refuse to forcibly out a student,” according to a press release from Assemblymember Chris Ward who introduced the bill.
“This is the final straw,” Musk wrote on X Tuesday. “Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas.”
This is the final straw.
Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas. https://t.co/cpWUDgBWFe
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 16, 2024
“I did make it clear to Governor Newsom about a year ago that laws of this nature would force families and companies to leave California to protect their children,” the X owner wrote in a follow-up post.
He also revealed he would be moving the social media platform’s headquarters to Austin, Texas, adding he has “had enough of dodging gangs of violent drug addicts just to get in and out of the building” in San Francisco.
Have had enough of dodging gangs of violent drug addicts just to get in and out of the building
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 16, 2024
Rather than reach out to the billionaire and foster any communication, Newsom posted a remark with a screenshot of a 2022 Truth Social post by former President Donald Trump.
Newsom wrote: “You bent the knee,” referring back to Trump’s claim in the post that “I could have said ‘drop to your knees and beg’ and he would have done it.”
You bent the knee. pic.twitter.com/5CNAWvZFSv
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 16, 2024
Musk fired back with a blistering shot.
You never get off your knees
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 17, 2024
Tesla’s headquarters were moved from Palo Alto, California to Austin, Texas, and Musk himself moved to the Lone Star state in 2020.
Musk predicted “many will follow” the exodus out of the Democrat-run state and that “Silicon Valley has shifted” as more support for Trump grows.
Many will follow https://t.co/ptgXe8Zmza
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 16, 2024
After the near assassination of Trump last weekend, Musk came out in support of the GOP nominee and pledged $45 million per month to a new political action committee backing the former president.
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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