Most Read

Politics

Elon Musk Subtly Claps Back After Greg Abbott Claims He 'Likes The Social Policies' Of Texas

Elon Musk Subtly Claps Back After Greg Abbott Claims He 'Likes The Social Policies' Of Texas
Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images, Montinique Monroe/Getty Images

Elon Musk made a subtle dig at Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who claimed he "frequently" talks with him and that the business magnate supports Texas's ultra-conservative social policies.

One of those policies includes Texas's controversial abortion ban, recently passed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The "heartbeat bill" would ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy—well before women even know they are pregnant—and allow private citizens to sue abortion providers and anyone else helping women get abortions.

In an interview with CNBC's Squawk Box, Governor Abbott candidly spoke out against businesses being apprehensive about moving to the Lone Star State due to its hardcore traditional values and policies.


He asserted the flourishing conservatism in the state isn't "slowing down businesses" but "in fact, it is accelerating the process of businesses coming to Texas."

He added how tech businesses were actually fleeing "very liberal" states like California for Texas.

Musk famously announced he personally moved to Austin after public squabbles in 2020 with California's public-health officials over pandemic restrictions shutting down the Telsa plant in Fremont, California.
In the interview, Abbott also mentioned he "frequently" talks with Musk, who he claimed "had to get out of California because, in part, of the social policies in California."

He added:

"Elon consistently tells me that he likes the social policies in the state of Texas."

However, people had their speculations about Musk and what he might say.



Musk, the founder and CEO of American aerospace manufacturer SpaceX and an early investor and CEO of Tesla, left Silicon Valley for Austin, Texas, where he built a Tesla Gigafactory and a facility for Starlink—a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX.



While he has been vocal in the media on a wide range of topics, including his erroneous predictions about the viral pathogen, he does not have a definitive stance when it comes to politics.

However, in response to the Texas Governor referring to Musk, he offered a roundabout way of describing his apolitical stance.

"In general, I believe government should rarely impose its will upon the people, and, when doing so, should aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness," Musk tweeted.

"That said, I would prefer to stay out of politics."


A handful of Twitter users appreciated his subtle shade at the Governor, and they supported his decision to "stay out of politics," as he proclaimed.





Others, however, were very critical of the entrepreneur's reticence.










It seems his declaration about staying out of politics ultimately did little to keep him out of the discussion.