--- title: "Governor of Texas Says He Can’t Release His Emails With Elon Musk Because They Are “Intimate and Embarrassing”" description: "Texas governor Greg Abbott is seemingly terrified of having his communications with billionaire Elon Musk come to light." date: "2025-07-14" modified: "2025-07-14" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/governor-texas-says-emails-elon-musk-intimate-embarrassing" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "elon musk" - "SpaceX" - "tesla" - "texas" --- # Governor of Texas Says He Can’t Release His Emails With Elon Musk Because They Are “Intimate and Embarrassing” ![Texas governor Greg Abbott is seemingly terrified of having his communications with billionaire Elon Musk come to light.]() *\Image: Getty / Futurism\* Texas governor Greg Abbott is seemingly terrified of having his communications with billionaire Elon Musk come to light. As the *Texas Tribune* and public radio station the *Texas Newsroom,* report in an [eye-opening, co-published investigation](), the elected official's public information coordinator, Matthew Taylor, said that the communications are confidential — and should stay that way — because they include "information that is intimate and embarrassing and not of legitimate concern to the public, including financial decisions that do not relate to transactions between an individual and a governmental body." Put it all together, and we're absolutely fascinated to know what they discussed. Musk has made the US state his home over the last couple of years, following years of complaining about being [taxed]() and having to abide by [government regulations]() in California. He has established new headquarters there for both Tesla and SpaceX, going as far as to found a space company town in what's now known as Starbase, Texas. His personal views have also shifted to the extreme far right, more closely aligning with the political landscape in Texas and Abbott's anti-LGBTQ, anti-abortion, and anti-DEI beliefs. Most recently, Tesla [launched]() an autonomous ride-hailing service in South Austin, benefiting from a lack of red tape that would've hindered a similar rollout in California (the EV maker [hasn't even started applying]() for the necessary permits in California yet.) Put simply, Musk undoubtedly has a close and seemingly beneficial relationship with Abbott. Inspired by Musk's chaotic stint in the White House, the governor even [attempted to create]() his own so-called Department of Government Efficiency in Texas earlier this year. Following the announcement, the *Texas Newsroom* requested that Abbott's office reveal his staff's emails with Musk, dating back to last fall. A check made out to the governor's office of $244 for the time it would take to wade through the emails was cashed — but the public records never came. Taylor told the broadcaster that revealing the information "would have a chilling effect on the frank and open discussion necessary for the decision-making process," which frankly sounds like a fishy way to cover up how business is conducted between Texas officials and private companies. Complicating matters is a recent Texas Supreme Court ruling that effectively stops anybody from enforcing public records laws against top state officials, as the *Texas Tribune* reports. In short, Musk's businesses are going to great lengths to ensure the richest man in the world's correspondence is kept secret. SpaceX lawyer Kevin Bagnall wrote a [letter]() to Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, arguing that the emails contain "commercial information whose disclosure would cause SpaceX substantial competitive harm." One thing's for sure: the contents of those emails have never sounded more fascinating. **More on Texas:** *[Tesla Stock in Tailspin After Error-Plagued Robotaxi Debut]()* ## 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]()