In a recent development, Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul, has declared his intention to relocate the headquarters of SpaceX and X from California to Texas.
This decision, he says, is a direct response to the new gender identity laws enacted by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Musk's announcement has sparked a war of words between the two, with Newsom responding to Musk's declaration with a terse four-word tweet: "You bent the knee."
According to the Daily Mail, Newsom's tweet was accompanied by a screenshot of a 2022 tweet from former President Donald Trump, in which he criticized Musk. The tweet from Trump suggested that Musk's success was largely due to his assistance, stating, "When Elon Musk came to the White House asking me for help on all of his many subsidized projects... I could have said, 'drop to your knees and beg,' and he would have done it."
Musk's decision to move his companies' headquarters was precipitated by Newsom's signing of a law that prohibits California school districts from informing parents if their child identifies as transgender. This law effectively overturns previous decisions in more conservative districts that required teachers to notify parents if a student changed their name or pronouns, or requested to use facilities or participate in programs that didn't align with their official gender.
"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," Musk announced on X. He added, "I did make it clear to Gov. Newsom about a year ago that laws of this nature would force families and companies to leave California to protect their children."
In addition to SpaceX, Musk revealed that the social media site X would also be relocating its headquarters from San Francisco to Austin. He cited his frustration with "dodging gangs of violent drug addicts just to get in and out of the building" as a contributing factor to this decision.
Musk's relocation plans have raised concerns about potential job losses, with ABC7 News reporting that hundreds, if not thousands, of people could be affected. However, Musk has suggested that "many will follow" his lead, noting a shift in Silicon Valley's dynamics.
The billionaire has previously moved Tesla's headquarters from Palo Alto, California to Austin, following disagreements with Alameda County officials over coronavirus restrictions. Despite this, he has maintained Tesla's 'engineering headquarters' in California and has praised Texas for its lack of income tax and abundant housing.
Musk, who has lived in California for two decades, moved to Texas in 2020 and has been vocal in his criticism of California's liberal policies. He has also expressed opposition to the use of preferred pronouns, dismissing it as part of a 'woke' agenda that he believes is harmful to society.
In contrast, Newsom has been a vocal supporter of these 'woke' ideals, despite moving his own family out of one of California's largest cities to a more exclusive area. This ideological divide between Musk and Newsom has been further highlighted by Musk's recent endorsement of Trump for president, following a shooting at a presidential rally.
Musk, currently the world's richest person, posted his endorsement along with a video of a bloodied Trump pumping his fist, stating, "I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery." This endorsement marks a significant shift towards right-wing politics for Musk and provides Trump with a high-profile supporter in his bid to return to the White House in the upcoming November 5 election.
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