In a rare show of support for Elon Musk, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has spoken out against the California Coastal Commission’s decision to reject a plan to expand SpaceX rocket launches. The Commission, in a politically charged move, cited Musk’s support for former President Donald Trump as part of its rationale for denying SpaceX’s request to increase the frequency of launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
“I’m with Elon,” Newsom said during a recent interview while campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris. He expressed disappointment with the Commission’s handling of the situation, stating, “I didn’t like that,” and suggesting that the decision was tainted by political bias.
Musk responded to the rejection by filing a lawsuit against the Commission, accusing it of engaging in “naked political discrimination.” Newsom, who has frequently clashed with Musk on issues ranging from school policies to AI regulation, agreed that politics had no place in the decision-making process. “You can’t bring up that explicit level of politics,” he said, noting that the Commission should have focused solely on the merits of SpaceX’s proposal.
While Newsom and Musk have a history of disagreement, particularly over California’s progressive policies, this particular case has brought the two into rare alignment. Newsom’s defense of Musk may be unexpected, but it underscores the need for non-partisan decision-making in regulatory agencies.
This legal battle may continue for some time, as Musk is prepared to fight the Commission’s decision in court. In the meantime, Newsom’s remarks demonstrate that even political adversaries can occasionally find common ground when the principles of fairness and governance are at stake.