---
title: "Elon Musk Carefully Says Nothing About Texas Abortion Ban"
description: "The topic of women's reproductive rights seems to be of very little concern to Musk, who \"would prefer to stay out of politics.\""
date: "2021-09-03"
modified: "2021-09-03"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/elon-musk-texas-abortion"
categories:
  - "Elon Musk"
  - "Future Society"
  - "The Industrialists"
tags:
  - "elon musk"
  - "reproductive health"
---

# Elon Musk Carefully Says Nothing About Texas Abortion Ban

![The topic of women's reproductive rights seems to be of very little concern to Musk, who "would prefer to stay out of politics."](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/elon-musk-shrugs-over-texas-imposing-draconian-abortion-ban.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/elon-musk-founder-of-spacex-speaks-during-the-satellite-news-photo/1206290117?adppopup=true" target="\_blank"\>Getty Images\</a\>\</em\>*

Texas governor Greg Abbott [told *CNBC*](<https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-supports-texas-abortion-ban-claims-governor-1847610572>) on Thursday — or at least heavily implied — that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had private expressed support for the state's draconion new abortion law.

The law amounts to a [de facto ban on abortion in the state](<https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-supports-texas-abortion-ban-claims-governor-1847610572>), and has been condemned by many as an [egregious overreach](<https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/09/texas-six-week-abortion-law-supreme-court.html>), a contradiction of legal precedent, and an active assault on personal freedoms.

But the topic of women's reproductive rights seems to be of little concern to Musk.

"In general, I believe government should rarely impose its will upon the people, and, when doing so, should aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness," he wrote in a reply to the *CNBC* interview. "That said, I would prefer to stay out of politics."

It's hard to get a read on Musk's terse statement. Is the billionaire arguing that reversing Abbott's abortion ban would result in the maximizing of "cumulative happiness?" Is he trying to maintain his cozy relationship with Texas' political leadership?

Maybe the most likely interpretation is the most obvious: that his tweet was carefully worded to say almost nothing at all.

Rather than wade in to the debate, Musk is choosing to stick his head in the sand. The least he could've done is to decry the move as an overreach of government, something he's been [complaining about nonstop](<https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/10/elon-musk-government-is-the-ultimate-corporation.html>), especially since [moving to Texas](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-moved-to-texas>) last year.

After all, he's a guy who's voiced loud opinions about the [threat of artificial intelligence running amok](<https://futurism.com/elon-musk-claims-only-have-10-percent-chance-making-ai-safe>), the [irrelevance of personal wealth](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-new-house>) — and [even the "Free Britney" movement](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-free-britney-spears>) earlier this year, throwing his support behind the musician's right to make her own life choices.

But when it comes to social policies, Musk has rarely said much. His view that the government's regulations and bureaucracy hinder freedom seem to not apply.

Or maybe he only opposes government intervention when it's inconvenient to his own business interests.

In 2020, [Musk opposed lockdown measures](<https://futurism.com/musk-trump-coronavirus-twitter>) imposed to ensure the safety of American workers during an unprecedented pandemic. But this year, when a woman's right to choose is under threat, Musk is keeping his mouth shut.

Effective family planning resources are also just good policy. Access to legal and safe abortion [is key](<https://www.who.int/health-topics/abortion#tab=tab_1>) to ensuring the reproductive health of a population. And Musk, as a numbers-driven leader, almost certainly knows that.

It's a striking double standard coming from a man who wants to make humanity interplanetary. Would Musk support an abortion ban in his city on Mars, where carrying out an unwanted pregnancy could endanger a carefully balanced artificial ecosystem?

Maybe Musk has just given up on humanity back on Earth. His unwillingness to speak out certainly seem to suggest that.

**READ MORE:** [Elon Musk Backs Texas Abortion Ban, Claims Governor, to No Objection](<https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-supports-texas-abortion-ban-claims-governor-1847610572>) \[*CNBC*\]

**More on Musk:** *[Elon Musk Joins Call to Free Britney Spears ](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-free-britney-spears>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)