Trump-Musk clash at the highest levels: NASA and the Pentagon seek alternatives to SpaceX

Tension mounts between the US president and the founder of SpaceX. The government is evaluating solutions to reduce dependence on Musk’s rockets

The clash between US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk has reached Earth’s orbit. After weeks of mutual accusations, political threats, and personal tensions, the White House has initiated contacts with several space companies to reduce its dependence on SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Musk, which is now at the center of US civil and military space activities.

According to government sources, NASA and the Pentagon have accelerated their assessment of alternative suppliers after Musk initially announced – and then retracted – the suspension of flights of the Dragon capsule, currently indispensable for transporting astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The threat caused alarm among space leaders, who mobilized to ensure the continuity of missions.

President Trump, for his part, has raised the possibility of canceling government contracts with SpaceX in response to posts published by Musk hinting at the president’s involvement in the so-called “Epstein files.” The South African entrepreneur has also hinted at possible support for a third political party, exacerbating the rift with the Republican administration.

“If he were to finance the Democrats, he would pay very serious consequences,” Trump told NBC News, referring to Musk’s possible intervention in the elections against the Grand Old Party candidates. On an operational level, however, the administration is forced to manage a delicate situation, given SpaceX’s dominant position in orbital launches and strategic transport.

To deal with the crisis, contacts have already been made with Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, and Stoke Space, while Sierra Space has confirmed the availability of the Dream Chaser aircraft, currently in advanced testing. Boeing, meanwhile, has been urged to reactivate the Starliner program, which has been on hold for some time due to technical problems.

At the same time, the appointment of entrepreneur Jared Isaacman – close to Musk – to head NASA has reportedly been withdrawn by the White House, fueling further tensions between the two sides. “It’s like an embargo on the space station,” commented Todd Harrison of the American Enterprise Institute, highlighting the risks of concentrating space resources in the hands of a single company and the unpredictable decisions of its founder.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)