Old tweets aimed at Elon Musk have come back into the spotlight, especially after Musk’s company saw a surge in value from its record IPO. This, of course, follows Musk’s decision to leave California for Texas, taking his businesses like Tesla and X with him.
Analysts suggest that California might have lost billions as a result of Musk’s move, signaling a substantial economic impact.
A specific tweet from a California labor union leader is drawing renewed attention, given its purported influence on Musk’s decision to relocate his electric vehicle company. In May 2020, Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, president of the California Federation of Labor, tweeted, “F— Elon Musk.”
Musk’s response to that tweet was simple: “I got the message.” Later, he seemed to concede that Fletcher’s post played a part in his choice to shift Tesla’s operations to Texas. He did confirm this with a comment on an article noting her criticism drove him to action.
John Lefebvre, an investment banker, remarked on X that “this one tweet cost California hundreds of billions of dollars in taxes, revenue, and jobs.” Another user suggested it might be the most expensive tweet in the state’s history. Responses like this have been plentiful, with one user asking Fletcher what she thinks about her old tweet, stating it ruined California.
Musk’s exit from California stemmed from various factors, including a political shift and his view that the state had become complacent. He pointed to a new law requiring school districts to inform parents about changes in a child’s gender identity as a deciding factor for him. Additionally, tensions arose between Musk and California officials regarding the reopening of Tesla’s factory during the pandemic.
On a recent Friday, California Democrats, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, criticized Musk’s rise to billionaire status. Newsom wrote that while the public struggles with rising costs, Musk becomes a “trionaire,” emphasizing the inequities in the current system.
Fletcher echoed Newsom’s sentiments on X, expressing support for his remarks. “I love this Gavin Newsom,” she wrote. “Well, what are we going to do about it?”
