Elon Musk to Move SpaceX and X Headquarters to Texas

Elon Musk announced his decision to move the headquarters of his rocket firm, SpaceX, and social media platform X out of California and into Texas.

This move comes in response to a new Californian state law that bans schools from requiring staff to disclose information about a child’s gender identity, even to parents. The billionaire expressed his frustration on X, stating, “This is the last straw.”

Previous Relocation of Tesla by Elon Musk:

Elon Musk had already moved Tesla’s headquarters to Texas in 2021, signaling his growing discontent with California’s regulatory environment.

Elon Musk elaborated on his decision: “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.”

Political Context and Endorsement:

This announcement follows Musk’s formal endorsement of Donald Trump for president. The Wall Street Journal reported that the billionaire plans to direct $45 million a month toward Trump’s campaign.

Musk, who has a transgender daughter, has previously spoken about gender identity issues. While he has expressed support for transgender individuals, he has also criticized the use of pronouns as an “aesthetic nightmare.” In 2023, Musk stated his intent to lobby for the criminalization of transgender medical treatments for children below the age of consent, citing concerns about “severe, irreversible changes.”

Reaction from California Governor Gavin Newsom:

California Governor Gavin Newsom responded to Musk’s announcement by sharing a 2022 post from Donald Trump criticizing the billionaire, with the message, “You bent the knee.”

Spgovernor spokespersons, a spokesperson for the governor, defended the new law, stating that it “keeps children safe while protecting the critical role of parents.”

The spokesperson added, “It protects the child-parent relationship by preventing politicians and school staff from inappropriately intervening in family matters and attempting to control if, when, and how families have deeply personal conversations.”