Elon Musk is once again standing up to California’s left-leaning government, this time after a state commission rejected SpaceX’s request for more frequent rocket launches, citing his political views as a factor. The Democrat-led California Coastal Commission turned down a proposal to increase the annual number of Falcon 9 launches from 36 to 50, sparking outrage from Musk, who accused the commission of trampling on free speech and prioritizing politics over progress.
The billionaire founder of SpaceX, known for his support of conservative values and his vocal backing of Republicans, fired back after commissioner Gretchen Newsom—no relation to California’s liberal Governor Gavin Newsom—took aim at Musk’s political posts on X (formerly known as Twitter) during a public meeting. Gretchen Newsom suggested that Musk’s online commentary and criticisms of government agencies, including FEMA, factored into the commission’s decision to block the expansion.
In a video of Thursday’s meeting, Newsom launched into a thinly veiled political attack on Musk, saying, “Elon Musk is hopping about the country, spewing and tweeting political falsehoods and attacking FEMA while claiming his desire to help hurricane victims with free Starlink access to the internet.” She also insinuated that Musk’s motives were more about “profit maximization” than protecting his employees or the environment.
Commission chair Caryl Hart backed Newsom’s comments, admitting, “You could argue that it’s bringing in politics, but this is a political matter to some extent because it involves the U.S. government, it involves the Coastal Commission.
Musk, never one to back down from a fight, responded with fury. Taking to X, he blasted the commission’s decision and vowed to take legal action. “What I post on this platform has nothing to do with a ‘coastal commission’ in California!” Musk wrote on Sunday. “Filing suit against them on Monday for violating the First Amendment.” True to his word, Musk signaled his intent to hold California’s unelected bureaucrats accountable for their blatant overreach.
The commission claimed that its decision was based on environmental concerns, particularly the impact of sonic booms on local wildlife and the surrounding ecosystem. However, given the nature of the comments made during the hearing, it’s clear politics played a significant role in the ruling.
This isn’t the first time Musk has found himself at odds with California’s political elites. His relationship with the state has been strained for years, despite Tesla receiving billions in tax exemptions and rebates as it rose to prominence as the nation’s leading electric car manufacturer. Frustrated by California’s high taxes, regulatory red tape, and draconian COVID lockdown measures, Musk famously relocated Tesla’s headquarters from Palo Alto to Austin, Texas in 2021.
Last month, Musk’s social media platform X closed its San Francisco headquarters, citing the city’s spiraling crime and lawlessness. SpaceX may be next on the chopping block for California. With the state doubling down on woke policies and its increasing hostility toward conservative viewpoints, Musk has hinted that SpaceX could join Tesla and X in Texas. His decision to relocate could bring major economic repercussions to California, which has already seen an exodus of businesses under its failing leadership.
This latest attack from the California Coastal Commission is just another example of how politics in the Golden State often trumps innovation and economic growth. Elon Musk is one of the few high-profile figures with the courage to stand up to the left-wing agenda. Now, it seems, even the stars aren’t safe from California’s political games.
