Trump and Musk had a very public falling out. But they may become allies again.
And Donald Trump did Elon Musk a huge favor that could repair their relationship for good.
Trump just dropped a bombshell: he’s firing up the nomination engine again for Jared Isaacman to take the helm at NASA. After a rough patch earlier this year, Trump’s giving Isaacman the green light to lead the charge.
Back in late May, things hit a snag when Trump pulled the plug on Isaacman’s first shot at the job. It was a gut-check moment, sparked by a deep dive into the guy’s past ties that raised some eyebrows in the White House. Trump called it a necessary step after spotting those old connections. But fast-forward to now, and the president’s all in, seeing past the noise to the real deal: a leader ready to make NASA roar again.
Jared Isaacman isn’t your typical D.C. suit. He’s a self-made powerhouse who’s built empires from the ground up, poured his heart into causes that matter, and strapped himself into rockets to touch the void.
Twice he’s rocketed into space on missions he bankrolled himself, staring down the cosmos like it’s just another challenge to conquer. That’s the kind of fire Trump wants lighting up NASA—someone who’s lived the thrill, not just dreamed it from a cushy office.
And let’s not forget the interim hero who’s been holding down the fort: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Trump gave him a shout-out that’s pure gold, calling out the “incredible job” Duffy’s done keeping NASA’s engines humming in the meantime.
Duffy’s the kind of straight-shooter who steps up when called, proving once again that Trump’s team is packed with doers, not talkers. It’s folks like him who keep the machine running while the big plays get set.
Now, sure, Isaacman’s ledger shows some cash flowing to the wrong side of the aisle back in the day—tens of thousands to Democrat outfits, including a hefty $41,000 chunk to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee as recent as October 2024, and a cool $100,000 in 2021 to a PAC tied to Chuck Schumer’s crowd.
Federal records don’t lie, and in the cutthroat world of politics, that kind of history can trip you up. But Trump’s no stranger to second chances for people who get the mission right.
Isaacman has sat down with Trump multiple times lately, hashing out visions for a space program that puts our flag front and center.
Toss in his tight bond with Elon Musk, and you’ve got a powerhouse duo that’s already rewriting the rules of the game. Isaacman crewed up for SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission in 2024, pulling off the first-ever private spacewalk like it was no big deal.
Word from inside the White House circles points to that earlier nomination hiccup as the spark that lit Musk’s public dust-up with Trump—thanks to a nudge from presidential personnel chief Sergio Gor.
Tensions flared, but here’s the beauty: real leaders hash it out and come back stronger. Musk’s not holding grudges; he fired off a string of emojis—a heart, a rocket, and the American flag—straight-up celebrating Trump’s move.
Isaacman didn’t waste a beat firing back gratitude on X. “It will be an honor to serve my country under your leadership,” he posted right at Trump.
And he didn’t stop there: “The support from the space-loving community has been overwhelming. I am not sure how I earned the trust of so many, but I will do everything I can to live up to those expectations.”
This renomination isn’t just paperwork; it’s a declaration of war on mediocrity. Isaacman’s laying down the gauntlet, vowing it’s high time for NASA “to inspire the world once again to achieve the near-impossible — to undertake and accomplish big, bold endeavors in space.”
“NASA will never be a caretaker of history — but will forever make history,” Isaacman said.
In the end, Trump’s Tuesday announcement isn’t just a nomination—it’s a promise kept to every patriot who’s tired of second-place finishes.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
