California Governor Gavin Newsom
California Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed unexpected support for Elon Musk after the California Coastal Commission blocked SpaceX’s efforts to increase rocket launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The governor’s stance highlights a notable shift in the relationship between the two influential figures, despite their political differences.
“I’m with Elon. I didn’t like that,” Newsom stated in an interview on Thursday, referring to the Commission’s decision.
“Look, I’m not helping the legal case. You just can’t bring up that explicit level of politics.”
He urged the Commission, a state agency with which he has close ties, to act with greater impartiality, adding, “You got to call balls and strikes.”
The Governor’s remarks came after Musk filed a lawsuit against the California Coastal Commission.
Musk’s lawsuit alleges that the Commission’s decision to block SpaceX’s expansion was driven by political bias, calling it “naked political discrimination.”
Earlier this week, the California Coastal Commission voted 6-4 against a proposal from Musk’s SpaceX, in partnership with the Department of Defense, to increase rocket launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The proposal aimed to allow up to 50 rocket launches annually from the site, which is located in Santa Barbara County.
Commissioner Gretchen Newsom, unrelated to Gov. Newsom, was one of the more vocal opponents of the proposal, accusing Musk of using his political influence irresponsibly.
“Elon Musk is hopping about the country, spewing and tweeting political falsehoods and attacking FEMA while claiming his desire to help the hurricane victims with free Starlink access to the internet,” she said during the hearing.
Despite publicly clashing with Musk in recent years, the Governor’s recent defense of the billionaire tech mogul caught some by surprise.
Newsom has previously criticized Musk, especially after the SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter) headquarters were moved out of California.
However, his concern over the potential political motivations behind the Commission’s decision seems to have prompted a rare moment of agreement.
“These are friends of mine that said that. These are good commissioners,” the governor said.
“But I’m not big on the Elon Musk bandwagon right now. So that’s me calling balls and strikes.”
He underscored his ongoing political differences with Musk, especially in light of the latter’s support for former President Donald Trump.
Musk’s recent alignment with Trump has further deepened the political divide between him and Newsom.
The SpaceX CEO has become a key supporter of Trump’s agenda, a stark contrast to Newsom’s political alliances.
Newsom has continued to champion Vice President Kamala Harris, a longtime political ally and former Californian colleague.
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