Take that, Trump! Musk Bids Adieu to SpaceX's Spacecraft
SpaceX chief, Elon Musk, declares suspension of the space capsule project.
In a bold move, tech titan Elon Musk has taken a stand against US President Donald Trump. Musk has declared that he will kickstart the retirement of his Dragon spacecraft, following Trump's threat to scrap government contracts with his companies. The Dragon spacecraft is a crucial component for US space travel, as it's the only American spacecraft currently capable of ferrying NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).
This latest dispute adds fuel to the fire between the two unlikely allies. In a post on X, Musk made it clear he wasn't happy with Trump's ultimatum to cancel their contracts.
Political Clash Tensions High: Trump and Musk butting heads
The retirement of the Dragon spacecraft would present a significant hurdle for NASA, as it's responsible for transporting critical supplies to the ISS. The contract for the Cargo Dragon spacecraft is worth a whopping $5 billion, making it a vital piece of equipment for US space travel. Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has experienced technical difficulties during its first manned flight, forcing the astronauts to remain on the ISS for months. SpaceX subsequently rescued them.
Although Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's space company, Blue Origin, has made journeys into space, it's yet to make a lasting impact like SpaceX. The void left by SpaceX would be difficult to fill, especially after the US ceased its reliance on Russian spacecraft following the end of the Space Shuttle program. Musk's announcement seems to be a countermove against another decision made by Trump: cancelling NASA's appointment of Jared Isaacman, a close ally of Musk, who was set to become the new NASA chief. The White House suggested that Isaacman did not align with Trump's "America First" agenda.
Economic Turmoil *Wall Street takes a hit: Musk vs. Trump
The feud between Musk and Trump has intensified, with Musk repeatedly speaking out against a tax law favored by the president. On June 5, 2025, Trump publicly labeled Musk "crazy" and threatened to withdraw government contracts from his companies. As the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Musk has previously made cuts in government budgets and spending. His aggressive approach and contentious reputation have earned him numerous enemies, even among Trump's own Republicans.
Controversial Associations Musk and Epstein: A Twisted Connection
Musk also took a swipe at Trump over their past associations with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who ended his life in a NY jail cell in 2019. Musk claimed on X that Trump was mentioned in the Epstein files, which are bundles of judicial documents related to the Epstein case. These files have not been released to the public, despite numerous requests[3].
Epstein was known for his powerful connections and was alleged to have sexually abused numerous minors and young women for years, forcing them into prostitution[4]. Trump and Epstein were acquaintances. According to the "New York Times," Musk also had connections to Epstein and his associates[5]. In 2014, a photograph surfaced of Musk at a party with Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of Epstein[5]. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for her role in Epstein's sex trafficking ring[6].
Sources:1. ntv.de2. mau/AFP/dpa3. The Drive4. The New York Times5. The New York Times6. The Atlantic
- SpaceX
- ISS
- NASA
- Donald Trump
- Elon Musk
- Jeffrey Epstein
- Jared Isaacman
- I'm not going to be a big fan of the idea of a "space" race being politicized by the decisions of President Donald Trump, especially when it comes to NASA's reliance on SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft for space travel and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).
- The space-and-astronomy sector, and more specifically, the technology involved in space travel, seems to have become a subject of deliberation between tech titan Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, given their disagreements over government contracts and the future of space exploration.
- The controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's past and his connections to powerful individuals – including Elon Musk and President Donald Trump – have emerged as a point of contention between the two, with Musk highlighting the implications of Trump's ties to Epstein, as per the Epstein files.
