Nevada Lt. Gov. sees Elon Musk's space tourism plans as huge opportunity for state's future

Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony said Elon Musk's space tourism ventures could become the state's next major industry. Anthony also assessed Las Vegas' transformation into a sports capital and the electoral impact of Trump's no-tax-on-tips policy.

Scraper SystemJuly 16, 2026, 11:09 AM

Nevada Lt. Gov. sees Elon Musk's space tourism plans as huge opportunity for state's future

Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony is focusing on space tourism for the state's economic future and highlighting the potential for collaboration with Elon Musk in this area. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Anthony stated that the existing commercial interests of the Tesla and SpaceX CEO in Nevada are a natural starting point for this vision.

Anthony, who served in law enforcement for nearly 30 years, held executive roles in the state's higher education system, and worked as a Las Vegas city councilman for a long period, has been governing Nevada alongside Governor Joe Lombardo since 2022. The Lombardo-Anthony ticket was recorded as the only election victory nationwide where Republicans defeated an incumbent Democratic governor and lieutenant governor.

Las Vegas' transformation into a sports hub

Anthony describes Nevada as the center of the entertainment sector with a climate favorable for low regulation and entrepreneurship. "A decade ago, there wasn't a single major sporting event in Nevada. They wouldn't come here due to concerns over illegal gambling, corruption, and bribery. In ten years, we became the sports capital of the world. Baseball is coming. We have hockey. We have football. Basketball will come too. Formula 1, NASCAR, women's basketball, the list goes on and on," he said.

Vast lands for space tourism

The Lieutenant Governor believes space tourism is a promising field for Nevada. "We have a lot of open land. Someone like Elon Musk could launch rockets into space, spend some time up there, sip their drinks, hang out with friends. What would it be like to see Earth from above? It's possible to turn this into a tourist adventure," he remarked. Anthony added that such ideas are constantly being considered, but implementation falls to the private sector, while their role is to support entrepreneurs.

Elon Musk'ın SpaceX'i özel bir şirketin gerçekleştireceği ilk uzay yürüyüşüne hazırlanıyor

Trump's support and electoral impact

President Trump formally endorsed the Lombardo-Anthony ticket. Anthony believes Trump's policy of eliminating taxes on tips will provide a major advantage in the November elections. "President Trump endorsed the governor and me. He was here a few months ago to explain the tip tax exemption, and it resonated hugely in Nevada. I believe President Trump will come again," he stated.

Values rooted in immigrant heritage

Anthony noted that his political philosophy was shaped by the values of hard work, self-reliance, and fiscal responsibility instilled by his parents, who emigrated from Cyprus. "When they came to the U.S., they had nothing. All they could do was find a job, get married, and start a family. Rule number one: work hard. Rule number two: never ask the government for anything," he said. Anthony stated that with this understanding, he serves to support Nevadans, but not to carry them—rather, to help them stand on their own two feet.

Nevada Lt. Gov. sees Elon Musk's space tourism plans as huge opportunity for state's future