Welcome to Starbase: Elon Musk to get his own city in Texas
While the vote will not give Musk free reign to adopt any regulations he wants, City officials will be able to do things such as shut down roads during rocket launches and build new housing for SpaceX staff.
The company has complained that it has been prevented from building enough housing for the hundreds of workers who want to live near the headquarters. A recent attempt to build more accommodation was rejected by local county officials.
In addition to the incorporation, locals elected Bobby Peden, a 36-year-old SpaceX employee who has worked at the company since 2013, as the town's new mayor alongside two city commissioners.
Little is known about the town's new leaders, who are all connected to SpaceX and ran unopposed with no campaigning.
An X account was created for the new city shortly after the results emerged. In its first post, it said: 'Becoming a city will help us continue building the best community possible for the men and women building the future of humanity's place in space.'
Musk is not the only tech billionaire looking to create his own new enclave. Marc Andreessen, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist known for inventing Netscape, and Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, are among the backers of California Forever, a real estate company plotting a new city after buying tens of thousands of acres of land near San Francisco.
PayPal tycoon Peter Thiel was one of the first investors in Seasteading, a libertarian project aimed at building floating cities in the middle of the ocean. Crypto entrepreneurs have also tried to create their own utopia in Puerto Rico.
Victory for Musk's SpaceX was widely expected given that almost all of the 283 eligible voters in the area were employees and their families.
Despite this, the vote did face protests amid concerns SpaceX would be granted the power to shut down access to the town's public beach whenever it wanted. The bust of Musk was last month defaced by vandals.
Loading
Local Rene Medrano, who grew up going to the Boca Chica beach, told the Texas Tribune: 'It's just such a disgrace on what's happening out here. There's a lot of upset community people who are seeing there's a great chance that we may lose this beach.'
Musk has recently relocated many of his companies and headquarters from California to Texas as he seeks out more favourable regulation in the Republican-run state. He recently bought a $US35 million ($54 million) compound in Texas, which is designed to house 11 of his children by different mothers.
County officials will canvass the results of the vote within the next fortnight before the official incorporation is declared by a judge. However, Remi Garza, the elections administrator for Cameron County, said: 'It's officially statistically impossible for the measure to fail. Cameron County is about to have a new city.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Vance downplays row between Trump, 'emotional guy' Musk
US Vice President JD Vance says Elon Musk was making a "huge mistake" going after President Donald Trump in a storm of bitter and inflammatory social media posts after a falling out between the two men. But the vice president, in a podcast interview released after the very public blow up between the world's richest man and arguably the world's most powerful, also tried to downplay Musk's blistering attacks as an "emotional guy" who got frustrated. "I hope that eventually Elon comes back into the fold. Maybe that's not possible now because he's gone so nuclear," Vance said. Vance's comments come as other Republicans in recent days have urged the two men, who months ago were close allies spending significant time together, to mend fences. Musk's torrent of social media posts attacking Trump came as the president portrayed him as disgruntled and "crazy" and threatened to cut the government contracts held by his businesses. Musk, who runs electric vehicle maker Tesla, internet company Starlink and rocket company SpaceX, lambasted Trump's centrepiece tax cuts and spending bill but also suggested Trump should be impeached and claimed without evidence that the government was concealing information about the president's association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. "Look, it happens to everybody," Vance said in the interview with comedian Theo Von. "I've flown off the handle way worse than Elon Musk did in the last 24 hours." Vance told Von that as Musk for days was calling on social media for the US Congress to kill Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," the president was "getting a little frustrated, feeling like some of the criticisms were unfair coming from Elon, but I think has been very restrained because the president doesn't think that he needs to be in a blood feud with Elon Musk". "I actually think if Elon chilled out a little bit, everything would be fine," he added. Musk had by Saturday morning deleted his X posts about Trump and Epstein. The interview was recording on Thursday as Musk's posts were unfurling on X, the social media network the billionaire owns. During the interview, Von showed the vice president Musk's claim that Trump's administration hasn't released all the records related to sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein because Trump is mentioned in them. Vance responded to that, saying "Absolutely not. Donald Trump didn't do anything wrong with Jeffrey Epstein". "This stuff is just not helpful," Vance said in response to another post shared by Musk calling for Trump to be impeached and replaced with Vance. "It's totally insane. The president is doing a good job." Vance called Musk an "incredible entrepreneur" and said that Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which sought to cut government spending and laid off or pushed out thousands of workers, was "really good". The vice president also defended the bill that has drawn Musk's ire, and said its central goal was not to cut spending but to extend the 2017 tax cuts approved in Trump's first term. Musk has warned that the bill will increase the federal deficit and called it a "disgusting abomination". "It's a good bill," Vance said. "It's not a perfect bill." Trump indicated in a phone interview with NBC on Saturday that he has no plans to make up with Musk. Asked specifically if he thought his relationship with Musk is over, Trump responded "I would assume so, yeah". "No," Trump told NBC when asked if he had any desire to repair his relationship with Musk. "I have no intention of speaking to him," Trump said. However, Trump said he had not thought about terminating US government contracts with Musk's StarLink satellite internet or SpaceX rocket launch companies. with AP US Vice President JD Vance says Elon Musk was making a "huge mistake" going after President Donald Trump in a storm of bitter and inflammatory social media posts after a falling out between the two men. But the vice president, in a podcast interview released after the very public blow up between the world's richest man and arguably the world's most powerful, also tried to downplay Musk's blistering attacks as an "emotional guy" who got frustrated. "I hope that eventually Elon comes back into the fold. Maybe that's not possible now because he's gone so nuclear," Vance said. Vance's comments come as other Republicans in recent days have urged the two men, who months ago were close allies spending significant time together, to mend fences. Musk's torrent of social media posts attacking Trump came as the president portrayed him as disgruntled and "crazy" and threatened to cut the government contracts held by his businesses. Musk, who runs electric vehicle maker Tesla, internet company Starlink and rocket company SpaceX, lambasted Trump's centrepiece tax cuts and spending bill but also suggested Trump should be impeached and claimed without evidence that the government was concealing information about the president's association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. "Look, it happens to everybody," Vance said in the interview with comedian Theo Von. "I've flown off the handle way worse than Elon Musk did in the last 24 hours." Vance told Von that as Musk for days was calling on social media for the US Congress to kill Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," the president was "getting a little frustrated, feeling like some of the criticisms were unfair coming from Elon, but I think has been very restrained because the president doesn't think that he needs to be in a blood feud with Elon Musk". "I actually think if Elon chilled out a little bit, everything would be fine," he added. Musk had by Saturday morning deleted his X posts about Trump and Epstein. The interview was recording on Thursday as Musk's posts were unfurling on X, the social media network the billionaire owns. During the interview, Von showed the vice president Musk's claim that Trump's administration hasn't released all the records related to sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein because Trump is mentioned in them. Vance responded to that, saying "Absolutely not. Donald Trump didn't do anything wrong with Jeffrey Epstein". "This stuff is just not helpful," Vance said in response to another post shared by Musk calling for Trump to be impeached and replaced with Vance. "It's totally insane. The president is doing a good job." Vance called Musk an "incredible entrepreneur" and said that Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which sought to cut government spending and laid off or pushed out thousands of workers, was "really good". The vice president also defended the bill that has drawn Musk's ire, and said its central goal was not to cut spending but to extend the 2017 tax cuts approved in Trump's first term. Musk has warned that the bill will increase the federal deficit and called it a "disgusting abomination". "It's a good bill," Vance said. "It's not a perfect bill." Trump indicated in a phone interview with NBC on Saturday that he has no plans to make up with Musk. Asked specifically if he thought his relationship with Musk is over, Trump responded "I would assume so, yeah". "No," Trump told NBC when asked if he had any desire to repair his relationship with Musk. "I have no intention of speaking to him," Trump said. However, Trump said he had not thought about terminating US government contracts with Musk's StarLink satellite internet or SpaceX rocket launch companies. with AP US Vice President JD Vance says Elon Musk was making a "huge mistake" going after President Donald Trump in a storm of bitter and inflammatory social media posts after a falling out between the two men. But the vice president, in a podcast interview released after the very public blow up between the world's richest man and arguably the world's most powerful, also tried to downplay Musk's blistering attacks as an "emotional guy" who got frustrated. "I hope that eventually Elon comes back into the fold. Maybe that's not possible now because he's gone so nuclear," Vance said. Vance's comments come as other Republicans in recent days have urged the two men, who months ago were close allies spending significant time together, to mend fences. Musk's torrent of social media posts attacking Trump came as the president portrayed him as disgruntled and "crazy" and threatened to cut the government contracts held by his businesses. Musk, who runs electric vehicle maker Tesla, internet company Starlink and rocket company SpaceX, lambasted Trump's centrepiece tax cuts and spending bill but also suggested Trump should be impeached and claimed without evidence that the government was concealing information about the president's association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. "Look, it happens to everybody," Vance said in the interview with comedian Theo Von. "I've flown off the handle way worse than Elon Musk did in the last 24 hours." Vance told Von that as Musk for days was calling on social media for the US Congress to kill Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," the president was "getting a little frustrated, feeling like some of the criticisms were unfair coming from Elon, but I think has been very restrained because the president doesn't think that he needs to be in a blood feud with Elon Musk". "I actually think if Elon chilled out a little bit, everything would be fine," he added. Musk had by Saturday morning deleted his X posts about Trump and Epstein. The interview was recording on Thursday as Musk's posts were unfurling on X, the social media network the billionaire owns. During the interview, Von showed the vice president Musk's claim that Trump's administration hasn't released all the records related to sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein because Trump is mentioned in them. Vance responded to that, saying "Absolutely not. Donald Trump didn't do anything wrong with Jeffrey Epstein". "This stuff is just not helpful," Vance said in response to another post shared by Musk calling for Trump to be impeached and replaced with Vance. "It's totally insane. The president is doing a good job." Vance called Musk an "incredible entrepreneur" and said that Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which sought to cut government spending and laid off or pushed out thousands of workers, was "really good". The vice president also defended the bill that has drawn Musk's ire, and said its central goal was not to cut spending but to extend the 2017 tax cuts approved in Trump's first term. Musk has warned that the bill will increase the federal deficit and called it a "disgusting abomination". "It's a good bill," Vance said. "It's not a perfect bill." Trump indicated in a phone interview with NBC on Saturday that he has no plans to make up with Musk. Asked specifically if he thought his relationship with Musk is over, Trump responded "I would assume so, yeah". "No," Trump told NBC when asked if he had any desire to repair his relationship with Musk. "I have no intention of speaking to him," Trump said. However, Trump said he had not thought about terminating US government contracts with Musk's StarLink satellite internet or SpaceX rocket launch companies. with AP US Vice President JD Vance says Elon Musk was making a "huge mistake" going after President Donald Trump in a storm of bitter and inflammatory social media posts after a falling out between the two men. But the vice president, in a podcast interview released after the very public blow up between the world's richest man and arguably the world's most powerful, also tried to downplay Musk's blistering attacks as an "emotional guy" who got frustrated. "I hope that eventually Elon comes back into the fold. Maybe that's not possible now because he's gone so nuclear," Vance said. Vance's comments come as other Republicans in recent days have urged the two men, who months ago were close allies spending significant time together, to mend fences. Musk's torrent of social media posts attacking Trump came as the president portrayed him as disgruntled and "crazy" and threatened to cut the government contracts held by his businesses. Musk, who runs electric vehicle maker Tesla, internet company Starlink and rocket company SpaceX, lambasted Trump's centrepiece tax cuts and spending bill but also suggested Trump should be impeached and claimed without evidence that the government was concealing information about the president's association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. "Look, it happens to everybody," Vance said in the interview with comedian Theo Von. "I've flown off the handle way worse than Elon Musk did in the last 24 hours." Vance told Von that as Musk for days was calling on social media for the US Congress to kill Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," the president was "getting a little frustrated, feeling like some of the criticisms were unfair coming from Elon, but I think has been very restrained because the president doesn't think that he needs to be in a blood feud with Elon Musk". "I actually think if Elon chilled out a little bit, everything would be fine," he added. Musk had by Saturday morning deleted his X posts about Trump and Epstein. The interview was recording on Thursday as Musk's posts were unfurling on X, the social media network the billionaire owns. During the interview, Von showed the vice president Musk's claim that Trump's administration hasn't released all the records related to sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein because Trump is mentioned in them. Vance responded to that, saying "Absolutely not. Donald Trump didn't do anything wrong with Jeffrey Epstein". "This stuff is just not helpful," Vance said in response to another post shared by Musk calling for Trump to be impeached and replaced with Vance. "It's totally insane. The president is doing a good job." Vance called Musk an "incredible entrepreneur" and said that Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which sought to cut government spending and laid off or pushed out thousands of workers, was "really good". The vice president also defended the bill that has drawn Musk's ire, and said its central goal was not to cut spending but to extend the 2017 tax cuts approved in Trump's first term. Musk has warned that the bill will increase the federal deficit and called it a "disgusting abomination". "It's a good bill," Vance said. "It's not a perfect bill." Trump indicated in a phone interview with NBC on Saturday that he has no plans to make up with Musk. Asked specifically if he thought his relationship with Musk is over, Trump responded "I would assume so, yeah". "No," Trump told NBC when asked if he had any desire to repair his relationship with Musk. "I have no intention of speaking to him," Trump said. However, Trump said he had not thought about terminating US government contracts with Musk's StarLink satellite internet or SpaceX rocket launch companies. with AP
9 News
an hour ago
- 9 News
Trump threatens 'consequences' if Musk backs Democrats
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here US President Donald Trump is not backing off his battle with Elon Musk , saying overnight that he has no desire to repair their relationship and warning that his former ally and campaign benefactor could face "serious consequences" if he tries to help Democrats in upcoming elections. Trump told NBC's Kristen Welker in a phone interview that he has no plans to make up with Musk. Asked specifically if he thought his relationship with the mega-billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX is over, Trump responded, "I would assume so, yeah." "I'm too busy doing other things," Trump continued. Happier times - Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and JD Vance. (AP) "You know, I won an election in a landslide. I gave him a lot of breaks, long before this happened, I gave him breaks in my first administration, and saved his life in my first administration, I have no intention of speaking to him." The president also issued a warning amid chatter that Musk could back Democratic lawmakers and candidates in the 2026 midterm elections. "If he does, he'll have to pay the consequences for that," Trump told NBC , though he declined to share what those consequences would be. Musk's businesses have many lucrative federal contracts. Vance said Musk had made a mistake in attacking Trump. (AP) The president's latest comments suggest Musk is moving from close ally to a potential new target for Trump, who has aggressively wielded the powers of his office to crack down on critics and punish perceived enemies. As a major government contractor, Musk's businesses could be particularly vulnerable to retribution. Trump has already threatened to cut Musk's contracts, calling it an easy way to save money. The dramatic rupture between the president and the world's richest man began this week with Musk's public criticism of Trump's "big beautiful bill" pending on Capitol Hill. Musk has warned that the bill will increase the federal deficit and called it a "disgusting abomination." Musk claimed, without evidence, Donald Trump was in the "Epstein file". (AP) Trump criticised Musk in the Oval Office, and before long, he and Musk began trading bitterly personal attacks on social media, sending the White House and GOP congressional leaders scrambling to assess the fallout. As the back-and-forth intensified, Musk suggested Trump should be impeached and claimed without evidence that the government was concealing information about the president's association with infamous paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Musk appeared by Saturday morning to have deleted his posts about Epstein. Vice President JD Vance in an interview tried to downplay the feud. He said Musk was making a "huge mistake" going after Trump, but called him an "emotional guy" getting frustrated. "I hope that eventually Elon comes back into the fold. Maybe that's not possible now because he's gone so nuclear," Vance said. Vance called Musk an "incredible entrepreneur," and said that Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which sought to cut government spending and laid off or pushed out thousands of workers, was "really good." Vance made the comments in an interview with "manosphere" comedian Theo Von, who last month joked about snorting drugs off a mixed-race baby and the sexuality of men in the US Navy when he opened for Trump at a military base in Qatar. The Vance interview was taped on Thursday as Musk's posts were unfurling on X, the social media network the billionaire owns. During the interview, Von showed the vice president Musk's claim that Trump's administration hasn't released all the records related to Epstein because Trump is mentioned in them. Vance responded to that, saying, "Absolutely not. Donald Trump didn't do anything wrong with Jeffrey Epstein." "This stuff is just not helpful," Vance said in response to another post shared by Musk calling for Trump to be impeached and replaced with Vance. "It's totally insane. The president is doing a good job." Vance also defended the bill that has drawn Musk's ire, and said its central goal was not to cut spending but to extend the 2017 tax cuts approved in Trump's first term. The bill would slash spending and taxes but also leave some 10.9 million more people without health insurance and spike deficits by US$2.4 trillion ($3.7 trillion) over the decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. "It's a good bill," Vance said. "It's not a perfect bill." The interview was taped in Nashville at a restaurant owned by musician Kid Rock, a Trump ally. Donald Trump elon musk US POLITICS USA World CONTACT US Property News: The last inner Sydney suburbs where houses cost under $2m.
The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
Musk deletes some of the explosive posts about Trump as US president issues threat
Billionaire Elon Musk removed several of his explosive posts on Saturday that targeted the US president, appearing to seek a de-escalation of their public feud. Musk posted on X on Thursday: 'Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,' he wrote. 'That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!' But on Saturday (Sunday AEST) the tweet was no longer available, with the link to the post now showing a message that said, 'Nothing to see here', ABC News reported. Musk also deleted the social media post that signalled support for impeaching the president. Meanwhile on Saturday, Trump told NBC there would be 'serious consequences' if Musk funds US Democrats running against Republicans who vote for the president's sweeping tax cut and spending bill. Loading In a telephone interview with NBC News, Trump declined to say what those consequences would be, and went on to add that he had not had discussions about whether to investigate Musk. Asked if his relationship with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO was over, Trump said 'I would assume so, yeah.' Musk and Trump began exchanging insults this week, as Musk denounced Trump's bill as a 'disgusting abomination.' Musk's opposition to the measure is complicating efforts to pass the bill in Congress, where Republicans hold a slim majority in the House of Representatives and Senate.
