Anna Hartz
NASA Nomination Pulled After Trump Learns of Past Political Ties
Donald Trump has never been shy about mixing business with politics. But this time, it seems politics won.
The former president has decided not to move forward with billionaire Jared Isaacman as the new head of NASA, reports Ziare.
The announcement came Saturday from the White House.
Isaacman is best known for his friendship with Elon Musk and for flying private missions into space. He has worked closely with Musk’s company, SpaceX.
He even performed a spacewalk in 2024 — the first private astronaut ever to do so.
At just 42, Isaacman has made a name for himself as both a tech entrepreneur and a space explorer.
The decision to drop him didn’t come from nowhere. Trump learned that Isaacman had donated to Democratic politicians in the past.
That was apparently enough to end the nomination. The White House said the next NASA chief must be fully aligned with Trump’s “America First” agenda.
A new name will be announced soon, the statement added.
The New York Times first reported on Trump’s decision. It described how Isaacman’s political contributions clashed with the president’s expectations for loyalty.
Trump is known for rewarding those who support him and turning quickly on those who don’t.
Isaacman had already appeared before a Senate committee in April. He shared his vision for space exploration.
He wanted to push hard toward a mission to Mars. He also said the Moon shouldn’t be forgotten.
He spoke with confidence and ambition, drawing attention from lawmakers and the public alike.
Elon Musk responded to the news on X, formerly Twitter. He called Isaacman competent and generous.
But the comment didn’t change anything. The decision stood.
This situation may be one more sign of growing distance between Trump and Musk.
The two billionaires once shared a friendly public relationship. That no longer seems to be the case.
As Trump’s campaign for 2024 heats up, he’s making it clear that loyalty — past and present — matters most.