Donald Trump withdraws nomination of Elon Musk associate as his choice to lead NASA

By Euronews pinch AP

Published on 02/06/2025 - 13:34 GMT+2

President Donald Trump is withdrawing nan information of tech billionaire Jared Isaacman, an subordinate of Trump advisor Elon Musk, to lead nan US' abstraction agency NASA. 

"After a thorough reappraisal of anterior associations, I americium hereby withdrawing nan information of Jared Isaacman to caput NASA," Trump wrote precocious connected Saturday connected his societal media site, Truth Social. 

"I will soon denote a caller Nominee who will beryllium Mission aligned, and put America First successful Space".

The White House did not respond to a petition from nan Associated Press to explain what that meant. 

In response, Isaacman thanked Trump and nan Senate, penning connected X that nan past six months were "enlightening and, honestly, a spot thrilling".

"It whitethorn not ever beryllium evident done nan sermon and turbulence, but location are galore competent, dedicated group who emotion this state and attraction profoundly astir nan mission," he said. 

"That was connected afloat show during my hearing, wherever leaders connected some sides of nan aisle made clear they’re consenting to conflict for nan world’s astir accomplished abstraction agency".

Collaboration pinch Elon Musk

Trump announced successful December during nan statesmanlike modulation that he had chosen Isaacman to beryllium nan abstraction agency's adjacent administrator.

Isaacman, 42, has been a adjacent collaborator pinch Musk ever since buying his first chartered formation connected Musk's SpaceX institution successful 2021.

He is nan CEO and laminitis of Shift4, a in installments paper processing company. He besides bought a bid of spaceflights from SpaceX and conducted nan first backstage spacewalk.

Musk appeared to lament Trump's determination aft nan news collapsed earlier connected Saturday, posting connected X that, "It is uncommon to find personification truthful competent and good-hearted".

SpaceX is owned by Musk, a Trump run contributor and advisor who announced this week that he is leaving nan authorities aft respective months astatine nan helm of nan Department of Government Efficiency, aliases DOGE.

Trump created nan agency to slash nan size of authorities and put Musk successful charge.