Trump pulled his NASA administrator nominee from consideration before Musk feud
President Donald Trump made a sudden decision to pull Jared Isaacman as his pick for NASA administrator, a day after the White House held a farewell press conference for SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk to highlight his efforts as the outgoing leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Isaacman, a commercial astronaut and founder and CEO of payment processing company Shift4 Payments, had close ties to Musk, including being an investor in SpaceX and leading two private spaceflight missions with the company. However, Trump announced in a social media post that he was withdrawing Isaacman’s nomination after a “thorough review of prior associations,” stating that he would unveil a new nominee who would be “Mission aligned, and put America First in Space.”
In an episode of the “All-In Podcast,” Isaacman addressed his pulled nomination, suggesting that his ties to Musk played a role in the decision. He received a call from the White House on May 30, the same day Musk’s tenure with DOGE concluded, notifying him that his nomination wouldn’t advance because the administration had “decided to go in a different direction.”
Tensions between Musk and Trump escalated after Musk’s departure as a special government employee and Isaacman’s withdrawn nomination. Musk publicly criticized Trump’s tax and spending package, referring to it as a “disgusting abomination” and urging the American public to contact lawmakers to “KILL the BILL.” Trump, in turn, accused Musk of suffering from “Trump derangement syndrome” and expressed disappointment over Musk’s opposition to the bill.
Trump also mentioned Isaacman’s nomination, claiming that Musk had recommended him for the role but expressing concern about Isaacman’s ties to the Democratic Party. Despite Isaacman’s past political donations to Democrats, he identified as “right-leaning” and didn’t believe his donations were a factor in his pulled nomination.
The White House directed Fox News Digital to Trump’s comments on Isaacman’s nomination and his previous donations to Democrats. Trump and Musk continued to trade barbs, with Musk urging the removal of “disgusting pork” from the tax and spending bill and Trump accusing Musk of going “CRAZY” over cuts to electric vehicle credits.
Despite the tensions between Trump and Musk, White House officials have stated that DOGE’s efforts to address waste, fraud, and abuse will continue, with the agency expected to formally shut down on July 4, 2026. While speculation arose about a potential phone call between Trump and Musk, Trump shut down the rumors, stating that he wouldn’t be speaking to Musk for a while but wishing him well.
In conclusion, the relationship between Trump, Musk, and Isaacman has seen its fair share of ups and downs, with conflicting views on policy decisions and nominations. The fallout from Isaacman’s pulled nomination highlights the complexities of politics and personal relationships in the space industry.
