Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis has added billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk to the list of capitalists he wants to relocate to Florida.
This week, after the founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX confirmed he had purchased 9 percent of Twitter’s stock, Patronis wrote Musk a letter encouraging him to move to the “Free State of Florida.”
Patronis noted that Twitter has “little-by-little” drifted away from its role as a forum for the free exchange of ideas. “I’m hopeful that with your influence, this platform can unwind some of its garbage-adjacent policies,” Patronis wrote.
“I think Twitter’s culture could benefit from being in a state that values liberty and has not been taken captive by the thought police (unlike California). There is no Ministry of truth here. Just freedom, beaches, and a lot of opportunity.”
Continuing, Patronis wrote, “Corporate glad-handing to online mobs has detracted from free speech and free thought. New ideas are blocked, or muted, and creativity is demonized.”
He then called Twitter’s “de-platforming” of the conservative satire website The Babylon Bee, of which Musk is a fan, a “total disgrace.”
“In Florida, under Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership, we value free speech and honest debate. We also know what it means to grow or maintain a business and the tools they need to succeed.”
Patronis noted how Musk has moved Tesla’s headquarters from California to Texas. While that’s an “upgrade,” Patronis added, he urged Musk to continue eastward with Twitter.
“You already trust the Florida Space Coast with SpaceX – you should relaunch a new and improved Twitter right here in Florida,” said Patronis.
“The fact is Florida is for Winners, and you have had incredible success in creating winning products,” Patronis noted. “Florida offers an amazing business climate, with no personal income tax, low corporate taxes an educated workforce, and a fantastic quality of life. I have no doubt the Twitter team would thrive in the Sunshine State.”
Before Musk, Patronis has made a similar pitch to former President Donald Trump to locate his social media platform in Florida, as well as relocation offers to executives at the In-N-Out hamburger franchise, Uber, and the New York Stock Exchange.
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