California‘s high-speed rail project has once again become a talking point as Gov. Gavin Newsom continues defending the state’s business climate against critics. A recent exchange involving Elon Musk and reality TV personality Spencer Pratt has added another layer to that debate after Newsom accused Musk of “turning his back” on California.
The renewed attention comes as California’s long-delayed high-speed rail project remains under scrutiny over its rising costs and construction delays, making it a frequent target of criticism from Newsom’s political opponents.
In the clip from an interview on The Axios Show, Newsom argues that California’s regulations helped create an environment that enabled Elon Musk to build his businesses before he eventually left the state.
Newsom says, “Regulation in California created the conditions that allowed him to take the risk to become the multi-billionaire, maybe trillionaire, that he’s become … Now he’s turning his back on the state that promoted him.”
According to the post, the remarks refer to Elon Musk. Influencer Spencer Pratt replied directly to the post, writing, “The guy who can’t even build 1 foot of train tracks with $120 Bn and 7 years in office is trying to take shots at the guy who is landing rocket ships backwards and catching them in midair with chopsticks? Ok, bro.” The original clip does not show the full interview context or questions posed to Newsom.
California Rail Project Sparks Fresh Debate
Some users reversed the phrasing from the clip, with one writing “California turned its back on Elon” and another stating “It is Gavin’s California that turned its back.” Others focused on infrastructure, including a comment that read “High speed rail = FAILURE.”
Additional replies addressed the substance of the remarks. One user wrote that the suggestion that regulations in California “created the conditions to allow Elon to take the risks that made him a billionaire” was “the thought only a madman could conjure up in his head,” noting that Elon came to California for its beauty and weather but left due to regulations.
Another stated, “Capitalism and geniuses like Elon built California over 100+ years. Socialist Failures like Newscum have brought it to its knees in a decade.”
A further response observed the effort to “take credit for Elon Musk’s creations, developments & achievements as he could never have done it without California.”
The exchange has become part of the broader debate surrounding California’s business climate, infrastructure projects, and economic priorities. As the high-speed rail project continues to face questions about its cost and timeline, Newsom’s comments about Musk are continuing to fuel discussion over whether the state is encouraging innovation or driving companies elsewhere.
