SpaceX CEO, Musk, warns Trump with potential SpaceX action and Epstein files, only to later rebound.
Title: Musk Backtracks on Threatening to Ground SpaceX's Dragon Amid Feud with Trump
In the Heat of the Moment, Elon Musk
In a heated spat with former President Donald Trump, tech mogul Elon Musk initially threatened to ground SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. The announcement, made on June 5, 2025, set alarm bells ringing, as the Dragon is the only US spacecraft currently capable of carrying NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. This significant contract with SpaceX is estimated to be worth around $5 billion.
Bickerings and Bounce-Backs
However, just a few hours later, Musk backtracked on his announcement, stating via social media that "good advice" had compelled him to reconsider. This change of heart came in response to a follower's advice for both Trump and Musk to "calm down and take a few days off."
Stock Market Tumult
This public feud between the tech billionaire and the former president had far-reaching effects. Tesla's stock plummeted by over 14% in US trading, with Musk's wealth dropping by nearly $34 billion in this single day, falling to approximately $335 billion.
The Indispensable Dragon
Despite the reversal of Musk's initial announcement, the ongoing tension has raised questions about the future of US space travel. The Dragon is crucial for NASA, as other options, such as Boeing's Starliner, have had their fair share of technical issues. In fact, on its first flight with humans on board, the Starliner crew was stranded on the ISS due to technical problems and had to wait for a SpaceX capsule to return to Earth.
Friends Turned Foes
The feud between Trump and Musk can be traced back to disagreements over a tax law that Trump favors but Musk strongly opposes due to the potential increase in US debt. This open break, followed by Trump's threat to withdraw government contracts from Musk's companies, underscores the souring of their once-friendly relationship.
A Dark Past
Musk also pointed to Trump's past relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who allegedly took his own life in 2019. Musk claimed that Trump's presence in the Epstein files is the real reason why they have never been published. The Epstein files refer to legal documents from the Epstein case, which highlight his alleged sexual abuse of minors and young women for years.
Sources:
- ntv.de
- mau/AFP/dpa
Related Terms:
- SpaceX
- International Space Station (ISS)
- NASA
- Donald Trump
- Elon Musk
- Jeffrey Epstein
Additional Insights:
- If SpaceX follows through with decommissioning Dragon, it could create a significant gap in U.S. crewed spaceflight capabilities for upcoming missions. BBC News
- The White House announced over the weekend that Jared Isaacman, a close ally of Musk, would not be the new NASA chief, citing his lack of alignment with Trump's "America First" agenda. The Associated Press
- SpaceX has approximately $22 billion in government contracts at risk due to the escalating feud. CNN Business
- Before his conviction, Epstein was a well-connected investor with links to prominent personalities, including Trump. New York Times
- Musk and Epstein had connections, as a photo of Musk at a party with Ghislaine Maxwell (a long-time associate of Epstein) was published in 2014. The Guardian
- I'm not going to be a big fan of the idea of a "space" travel disruption due to the ongoing feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, given the crucial role SpaceX's Dragon plays in NASA's mission to the International Space Station and the estimated $5 billion contract at stake.
- The altercation between Trump and Musk extends beyond space travel, with Musk opposing a tax law favored by Trump due to its potential increase in US debt, and Musk bringing up Trump's alleged connections with Jeffrey Epstein, whom he claims is the real reason why the Epstein files have yet to be published.
- This standoff between the tech billionaire and the former president has profound implications for both the business and political worlds, as SpaceX's approximately $22 billion in government contracts are at risk due to the escalating feud, and Trump's choice for a new NASA chief was rejected due to his lack of alignment with Trump's "America First" agenda.
