California Governor Gavin Newsom has lavished praise on Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk calling him 'one of the world's great innovators and entrepreneurs' just hours after taking a parting shot at the entrepreneur and business magnate who plans to move the headquarters to Texas.
'I mean what an extraordinary, extraordinary talent,' Governor Newsom said at a bill-signing ceremony in Oakland on Friday afternoon where he thanked Musk and Tesla for investing in California.
California is the state where the company was created and opened its first factory.
Newsom also appeared to welcome Musk's comments, made on Thursday during Tesla's annual shareholders meeting.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, pictured on Friday in Oakland, has praised Elon Musk describing him as an 'extraordinary, extraordinary talent'
The sudden change in mood came hours after Newsom's office criticized Tesla's move to Texas, with a spokeswoman referencing Texas's six-week abortion ban
Musk promised the company would expand its operations in California, despite announcing it was moving its headquarters from Palo Alto, California to Austin.
He said California deserved some of the credit for Tesla's success, having given the company 'hundreds of millions of dollars' in tax breaks and developing policies to encourage electric cars.
But just hours earlier, on Thursday, Newsom's office made a cutting remark at the electric vehicle company Musk's announcement of plans to relocate Tesla's HQ with a spokeswoman for the governor stressing that California would 'stand up for workers, public health and a woman's right to choose', referencing Texas's ban on abortion after the first six weeks.
She added the Golden State was still 'home to the biggest ideas and companies on the planet.'
Governor Newsom came in for criticism following the decision to shift Tesla's HQ to Texas
But former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer tweeted: 'Until we change the policies that are driving companies away we're going to continue to lose jobs and disrupt California families. We've got to do better.'
Faulconer finished third to Newsom in last month's California gubernatorial recall election.
Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott welcomed Tesla, tweeting, 'The Lone Star State is the land of opportunity and innovation. Welcome.'
Musk said that Tesla, which has been in Silicon Valley since 2003, has outgrown its Fremont factory after more than a year of infighting with local and state officials over COVID mandates and high taxes.
'It's like we're spam in a can here,' he said, adding that there's sparse affordable housing and a lot of workers have a long commute.
Elon Musk, right, confirmed Thursday that Tesla will be moving its headquarters from Palo Alto, California, to Austin, Texas. Newsom had initially criticized the move amid controversy over the Lone Star State's law banning abortions after six weeks
The company's vehicle assembly plant in Austin (pictured above) is under construction and borders the Colorado River
Tesla's move to Texas follows through on a promise he first made over a year ago in response to the Golden State's strict COVID guidelines.
Many also took to Twitter to criticize Tesla's move amid the Texas abortion law.
The Texas law leaves enforcement solely up to private citizens, who are entitled to collect $10,000 in damages if they bring successful lawsuits against not just abortion providers who violate the restrictions, but anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion.
Hundreds of marches took place last week in opposition to the law, which was recently blocked by a federal judge.
Twitter user Jo Ann Aaronson wrote, 'Moving right into a state that is trying to ban abortions. Just lost all respect for Tesla and Elon Musk.'
Another Twitter user with the handle lupin wrote, 'If anything would make me move out of Texas, it's news that Musk is setting up shop there.
'Texas does not need one more person with 'I'm the center of the universe' syndrome.'
Twitter user RWS added, 'Billionaire Moves headquarters to Avoid Taxes!! is a little more accurate.'
