Musk Backtracks on SpaceX Shutdown Threat Amidst Trump Feud and Allegations of Epstein Files Involvement
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk threatens to unveil Trump-related SpaceX documents and scandal-ridden Epstein files, subsequently evading further discussions.
It's no secret that tech tycoon, Elon Musk, and US President, Donald Trump, have been engaged in a public spat. Musk virtually throws a wrench in the works with his statement that SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will cease operations immediately. This could mean big trouble for American space missions as the Dragon is the sole means for NASA to transport astronauts to the International Space Station. The contract alone is worth a staggering $5 billion.
However, hours later, Musk did a quick about-face. Taking to a platform, he wrote, "Good advice. Ok, we won't retire Dragon." Musk's initial threat came right after Trump threatened to scrap government contracts for his companies, including SpaceX. It appears the president's words struck a raw nerve.
With Tesla's stock taking a nose dive of over 14 percent, the market wasn't too pleased with the unfolding drama either. Bloomberg estimates that Musk's fortune has plummeted by a whopping $34 billion in just a day, leaving him with $335 billion in wealth (approximately $293 billion).
The Dragon: NASA's Indispensable Lifeline
The Dragon spacecraft has become NASA's lifeline. It's the only US spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts to the ISS. Despite Boeing's Starliner spacecraft making a brief trip into space, it's still in its infancy, having faced technical issues during its first manned flight. In contrast, the SpaceX spacecraft was the savior following the end of the Space Shuttle program.America found itself at the mercy of Russian spacecraft until the Dragon was ready.
Jeff Bezos also boasts a space company, Blue Origin, but it hasn't made much headway just yet. The feud between Trump and Musk seems to have political underpinnings too, with Trump's White House revoking Musk's associate, Jared Isaacman's nomination as the new NASA chief. The White House cited a lack of alignment with Trump's "America First" agenda as the reason for the decision.
Open Break-up: Musk goes after Trump's Past
Musk, who also heads Tesla, was once a White House advisor; however, his tenure was marked by controversy and hostility. The latest round of fights involves Musk's opposition to Trump's proposed tax law, which he believes would significantly escalate the US debt. Trump retaliated by labeling Musk as "crazy" and threatened to strip his companies of government contracts.
Epstein Files: Unsettling Connections
Musk didn't hold back when it came to Trump's connection with disgraced financier, Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a suspicious prison suicide in 2019. Musk pointed out that Trump's name appears in the Epstein files. The files in question are legal documents related to the Epstein case, which detailed allegations of sexual abuse and human trafficking against Epstein and his associates.
Both Trump and Musk have been rumored to have interactions with Epstein's inner circle, with Musk attending parties alongside Ghislaine Maxwell, a long-time Epstein associate. Maxwell was recently convicted for her role in enabling Epstein's sexual crimes.
Sources: ntv.de, mau/AFP/dpa
- SpaceX
- ISS
- NASA
- Donald Trump
- Elon Musk
- Jeffrey Epstein
- Ghislaine Maxwell
Despite the Dragon spacecraft being NASA's indispensable lifeline for transporting astronauts to the ISS, I'm not going to be a big fan of the idea of a "space race" between SpaceX and the US administration, considering the ongoing political feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump. The drama between these two figures has taken a turn, especially when Musk brought up Trump's unsettling connections with Jeffrey Epstein, whose files containe allegations of sexual abuse and human trafficking against him and his associates, including Trump's name.
