According to the Los Angeles Times, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Tuesday that he is relocating the headquarters of both SpaceX and the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to Texas. Musk cited several criticisms of California and doing business in San Francisco as reasons for the move.
Musk pointed to a new state law, reported by the Los Angeles Times, that prohibits teachers from informing families about student gender identity changes as a primary factor in his decision to move SpaceX’s headquarters from Hawthorne to the company’s launch test site in Texas.
The move represents a significant setback for Southern California, where SpaceX has played a pivotal role in fostering a growing space economy, as noted by the Los Angeles Times.
“This is the final straw,” Musk posted shortly after noon. “Because of this law and numerous others that have preceded it, which target both families and companies, SpaceX will now relocate its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas.”
The law cited by SpaceX’s founder was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday following a heated dispute between conservative school boards advocating for parental rights and LGBTQ+ activists concerned about the welfare of vulnerable youths.
Following his announcement about SpaceX, Musk also declared via his social media platform that X (formerly Twitter) will move from San Francisco to Austin. He expressed frustration, stating, “I’ve had enough of dodging gangs of violent drug addicts just to get in and out of the building.”
This announcement marks the latest development in Musk’s ongoing conflict with California, nearly three years after he relocated Tesla’s headquarters from Palo Alto to Austin, citing exorbitant housing costs and lengthy employee commutes. Tesla maintains its manufacturing operations in Fremont.
The move comes amid a highly charged presidential campaign, during which the libertarian-leaning Musk has increasingly aligned himself with right-wing politics. Musk was among the earliest business leaders to publicly endorse Donald Trump for President in the run-up to the elections.
Musk’s decision also sparked a response from Democratic State Senator Scott Wiener, representing San Francisco, who criticized Musk’s significant gains from California subsidies. “Will this be another tantrum move akin to Tesla’s supposed relocation to Texas?” Wiener questioned. He added, “I’m skeptical that whatever he decides has any real connection to laws meant to safeguard transgender children’s safety. Musk has a history of making statements that don’t hold true.”
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