The day when Elon Musk’s digital platform, designated as ‘X’, will terminate its operations at the flagship San Francisco office is now established, as indicated by recent reports. An insider reportedly disclosed to Fortune that company associates were notified via email that the Market Street premises would cease functions come September 13, a date interestingly aligning with a Friday.
Last month brought the news that Musk was planning to shift the global base of operations for both ‘X’ and SpaceX from California, set in motion by the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, signing a bill into law that prevents educational institutions from informing parents about their children’s gender identities.
In the announcement, Musk confirmed his intention to relocate the base for ‘X’ to Austin, Texas. He also shared the decision to move the home of SpaceX from Hawthorne, California, to a location known as Starbase, situated in Texas.
Referring to the gender identity legislation, Musk described it as ‘the last straw’, and indicated his relocation decisions were in response to ‘this law and the many others before it,’ perceived as launching adversarial actions towards both families and corporate entities.
Musk’s criticism of Californian regulation is not a recent development. Over time, the serial entrepreneur has questioned several state policies as his enterprises progressively transition towards the more business-friendly environment of Texas.
By the end of 2021, the electric vehicle behemoth Tesla, under Musk’s leadership, had also shifted its global headquarters. The move was from California to Austin, Texas, a relocation that emerged amidst a climate of growing tension with the Californian authorities, particularly sparked by the state’s strict measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.