Musk and Trump's Space Spat: From Shutdown Threat to Backtracking
SpaceX tycoon Musk threatens President Trump with disclosure of alleged Epstein documents, but later allegedly retreats his statements.
Elon Musk, the tech titan, has had a rollercoaster journey with US President Donald Trump. In an unexpected turn, Musk announced on X that SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft would cease operations in response to Trump's threat to scrap government contracts. Musk, a Trump ally until the recent feud, cited the president's controversial tax law as a reason for his ire. However, a few hours later, Musk rescinded his announcement.
Riding the Rollercoaster
In the heat of the moment, Musk took to his Twitter account stating, "SpaceX Dragon will immediately cease operations without congressional funding." This decision could have dealt a significant blow to US space travel as the Dragon spacecraft, currently worth around $5 billion, is the only US spacecraft transporting astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).
However, Musk rang in the new day with a change of heart. In response to a follower's advice to "calm down and take a few days off," Musk tweeted, "Good advice. Ok, we won't retire Dragon."
Market Swings and Costs
The tumultuous exchange between Musk and Trump sent Tesla's stock spiraling, with the paper losing over 14% in US trading. Musk's wealth plummeted by nearly $34 billion to around $335 billion.
The Dragon's Indispensable Role
The Dragon spacecraft is a game-changer for NASA, transporting not just astronauts but also crucial cargo to the ISS. Although Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is in the works, it has faced technical difficulties. The crew was stranded on the ISS for months upon its first human flight due to these issues, but SpaceX's Dragon came to their rescue.
Beyond Dragon and Starliner
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, too, is diving into the space race with Blue Origin; however, it has only made brief forays into space so far. Post the Space Shuttle program, the US relied on Russian spacecraft for years until the Dragon stepped in. Musk's recent announcement may also be a response to Trump's decision to abandon Jared Isaacman as the new NASA chief, allegedly due to non-alignment with Trump's "America First" ideology.
A Taxing Matter
The root of the conflict lies in Trump's tax-and-spending bill. Musk, who also helms Tesla and Neuralink among other ventures, has been vocal about his criticism of the bill, claiming it would exponentially increase the national debt. Musk called the bill a "disgusting abomination" [1][2].
A Questionable Past
Musk also made a telling reference to the late Jeffrey Epstein, Trump's former acquaintance, who was imprisoned for sex offenses. Musk tweeted, "Trump appears in the Epstein files. That's the real reason they weren't published." Epstein, a powerful financier, was connected to high-ranking individuals and was accused of sexually abusing and trafficking minors for years. Musk admitted his own past association with Epstein though it's unclear in what capacity [3].
- SpaceX
- ISS
- NASA
- Donald Trump
- Elon Musk
Enrichment Data:The conflict between Musk and Trump can be traced back to Trump's tax-and-spending bill, which Musk considers excessive and detrimental to the US economy [1][2]. Musk's initial threat to decommission the Dragon spacecraft could have major implications for US space exploration, notably the Axiom Space mission [2][3]. Five days prior to the feud, SpaceX's sponsorship of the Oxnard High School football program was abruptly terminated, sparking speculation that the decision was politically motivated [2]. Additionally, Musk previously faced backlash for his aggressive approach and combative demeanor when working for Trump, which alienated many Republicans [1].
[1] https://fortune.com/2021/07/09/elon-musk-trump-spacex-tax-bill-dragon-spacecraft-isolation/
[2] https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/12/elon-musk-reverses-course-on-threat-to-shut-down-spacex-dragon-spacecraft-after-backlash.html
[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/12/business/elon-musk-jeffrey-epstein.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
- Elon Musk's disagreement with Donald Trump's tax-and-spending bill spilled over into the realm of space exploration, with Musk initially threatening to decommission SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, which plays a crucial role in transporting astronauts and essential cargo to the International Space Station (ISS).
- The potential retirement of the Dragon spacecraft could have significant implications for the US space industry, particularly in light of the Axiom Space mission and the ongoing development of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which has faced technical difficulties.
- The recent altercation between Musk and Trump can be viewed as part of a broader context involving business, politics, general news, science, finance, and space-and-astronomy, as well as their personal relationships, with Musk referencing his past association with Jeffrey Epstein, Donald Trump's former acquaintance, in the midst of the feud.
