Trump does not appoint Musk's associate as NASA's leader.
Title: "Trump Ditches Musk Buddy Isaacman as NASA Chief Nominee"
Let's Freakin' Roll! Donald Trump ain't playing around - he's jettisoning Jared Isaacman from the top spot at NASA. After months of Jared Isaacman being the golden boy for the gig, Trump's had a change of tune and yanked the nomination. So, what gives? Let's dive in.
The outspoken prez announced it on Truth Social, believe it or not. Reason? Some "earlier connections" that got a thorough review. Supposedly, a new candidate's gonna be announced quick, someone ready to put the pedal to the metal and make America number one in space.
Remember, Trump nominated Isaacman, a pal of tech titan Elon Musk, to take over from Bill Nelson when he moved into the White House. Looks like the Senate was getting ready to confirm the dude any day now. Musk, seemingly disappointed, said on X, "It's rare to find someone so competent and kind."
Politics Puff Preroll or Poppycock? Musk Speaks on His Sobriety Trump's sudden switcheroo is head-scratching. In December, he praised Isaacman to high heaven, calling him ideal for launching Nasa into a new era.
Isaacman echoed his thoughts, saying on X, "I'll always be thankful for this opportunity and will holler on our Commie-in-Chief and Nasa as they shoot for the stars." He added that America deserves a top-notch leader, "someone ready to reorganize, rebuild, and round up the smartest snots to write historic headlines that Nasa was formed for."
Isaacman's name's been in the stargazing news recently for his two private space missions. In 2021, he hit the stars with the first all-civilian crew, orbiting the Earth for nearly three days with three other astronauts. In September 2024, he linked up with three other space junkies on the "Polaris Dawn" mission, cruising at around 1400 kilometers in altitude and briefly splitting his spacecraft.
Economy **"Callin' It Now" German Aerospace Firm Cashes in on Musk's Doubts in SpaceX" Isaacman's been working with SpaceX, ya know, that space company Musk runs, on both missions. Guess who's stepping down as Trump's cost-cutting guru? That's right - SpaceX's Musk.
According to the New York Times, Trump's personnel choice could be linked to Musk's slipping power in the government. Additionally, reports are swirling that Isaacman sank some cash into the Dems for political donations - hey, money talks, right?
Sources: ntv.de, lme/dpa
- Elon Musk
- Donald Trump
- Nasa
- SpaceX
*(Enrichment Insights: Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut with close ties to Elon Musk and SpaceX, was withdrawn as the nominee for NASA Administrator by President Donald Trump shortly before his Senate confirmation vote. The official reason given by the White House was that the next NASA leader must be "in complete alignment" with President Trump's "America First" agenda and his bold mission to plant the American flag on Mars. The withdrawal appears to stem from concerns within the Trump administration about Isaacman’s alignment with Trump’s space policy and agenda rather than any publicly stated personal or professional issues. The exact details behind the decision were not disclosed by the White House.)
I'm not going to be a big fan of the idea that politics might have played a role in Isaacman's removal as NASA's nominee, given his close ties with tech titan Elon Musk and SpaceX. Moreover, the realm of space-and-astronomy, which Isaacman has been actively involved in through his private space missions, seems incongruous with the realm of general-news surrounding his withdrawal from the top NASA position.
