In a dramatic turn of events that many had long predicted, Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) is packing up its operations in San Francisco and relocating to Austin, Texas. The social media giant’s departure has sparked a surprisingly gleeful response from the city’s officials, who have not minced words in their farewell. What was once a cornerstone of San Francisco’s tech ecosystem has become, in the eyes of local leaders, a liability—one they are more than happy to see go.
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu spoke for many when he stated, “I share the perspective that most San Franciscans have, which is good riddance.” Chiu, who once played a pivotal role in bringing Twitter to the city, now sees its departure as a positive development. The company that was once a symbol of San Francisco’s innovation and progress has, under Musk’s leadership, transformed into something the city no longer recognizes or values.
The discontent isn’t solely rooted in the decision to relocate. It’s also a reaction to the ideological shift that X has undergone since Musk’s acquisition. Under his leadership, the platform has taken a hard turn away from the policies that once made it a favorite among the city’s liberal elite, particularly its content moderation policies.
These changes have turned X into a battleground for political ideologies, with Musk positioning himself as a defender of free speech—a stance that has not been well received in a city known for its prog.