California Governor Gavin Newsom did not hold back during a recent interview, labeling Elon Musk as “one of the great disappointments” of our era, while accusing the Tesla CEO of surrendering the electric vehicle (EV) market to China.
Initially, Newsom acknowledged Musk’s contributions, likening him to Thomas Edison and calling him “one of the great innovators of our time.” Yet, this praise quickly turned sour as he lamented, “He’s the Edison of our time. It breaks my heart.”
Newsom contended that Musk, who was instrumental in establishing the EV industry in the United States, has diverted Tesla’s focus towards robotics, thereby allowing China to dominate the market. Currently, China commands a staggering 70 percent of the global EV sector.
“I think this is Trump, not just Elon Musk,” Newsom remarked, referencing the previous administration's decision to eliminate the federal EV tax credit last fall. He described this move as “the greatest [own] goal” in the coming decade by “ceding the EV space to China.”
“They have 70 percent of the global EV market. It’s about statecraft with them; it’s about supply chains. They’re flooding the zone all around the globe, including now right on the border into Canada,” he elaborated.
Newsom expressed concern for American legacy automobile manufacturers, stating, “It’s a stack play, it’s a national security play, and I really fear what’s going to happen.”
“Elon was the one accelerating that. Now he’s put the brakes on his own innovation in that space and shifted to robotics, humanoids,” he added.
Known for his candid remarks, Newsom has previously engaged in public disputes with powerful figures, including a notable exchange with Musk on social media last December. This confrontation arose after Musk made controversial comments regarding womanhood.
Musk stated on his platform, “If you have a womb, you are a woman. Otherwise, you are not,” which sparked immediate backlash. Newsom’s press office responded sharply, saying, “We’re sorry your daughter hates you, Elon,” a comment seemingly directed at Musk’s estranged transgender daughter.
Musk retaliated by addressing Newsom directly on social media, claiming, “I assume you’re referring to my son, Xavier, who has a tragic mental illness caused by the evil woke mind virus you push on vulnerable children.” He expressed love for his son while also mentioning his daughters.
As Newsom embarks on a book tour amid speculation about a presidential run in 2028, he revealed during an interview that his children are not supportive of his potential candidacy. When asked how his family would vote on his presidential ambitions, he quipped, “It depends on the day of the week.”
In a recent poll, Newsom emerged as a leading figure among Democrats for the 2028 presidential nomination. According to a Yahoo/YouGov survey, 19 percent of Americans favored him as the Democratic nominee, closely followed by former Vice President Kamala Harris at 18 percent.
When posed with a hypothetical matchup between Newsom and Vice President JD Vance, 49 percent indicated they would support Newsom compared to 43 percent for Vance.
