When Elon Musk throws his weight behind a NASA pick, you’d think it’s a done deal, but the White House just slammed on the brakes.
The Daily Caller reported that the drama unfolded as Jared Isaacman, Musk’s choice for NASA administrator, saw his nomination yanked by the administration over concerns about his Democratic ties and support for progressive causes like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), sparking a public feud between Musk and President Trump.
Let’s rewind to the start of this saga, where Musk, a heavyweight in Trump’s orbit, lobbied hard for Isaacman to lead NASA.
Initially, it seemed like smooth sailing—Isaacman looked poised to clear Senate confirmation with relative ease. But whispers of doubt were already circulating among senior White House officials.
Three high-ranking administration officials expressed serious reservations about Isaacman from the get-go.
His track record of funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrats, like New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, didn’t exactly scream alignment with Trump’s agenda. Turns out, writing big checks to political opponents doesn’t win you friends in this crowd.
Then there’s Isaacman’s vocal support for DEI initiatives, which raised eyebrows among those who see such policies as a distraction from NASA’s core mission.
“I am confident that @inspiration4x will reflect the diversity that exists here on Earth up in Space!” he tweeted back in 2021. Nice sentiment, Jared, but in this administration, that kind of talk is more likely to ground you than launch you.
Capitol Hill wasn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet either. Three sources noted that lawmakers were irked by Isaacman’s donations to their rivals while he was under consideration for such a prominent role. It’s almost as if political loyalty still matters in Washington—who knew?
Fast forward to the Senate scheduling Isaacman’s floor vote, hot on the heels of Musk’s departure from the administration.
The timing couldn’t have been worse, as scrutiny over Isaacman’s past intensified. Even Republican Montana Sen. Tim Sheehy, who gave a glowing intro speech at Isaacman’s hearing despite his misgivings, felt blindsided when the nomination was pulled.
“Astronaut and successful businessman @RookIsaacman was a strong choice by President Trump to lead NASA,” Sheehy tweeted, standing by his earlier praise.
But let’s be real—backing a candidate who bankrolled your opponent, Sen. Jon Tester, must’ve felt like swallowing a bitter pill. Sheehy’s loyalty to the process is admirable, even if the outcome left him stunned.
The White House, for its part, insists this wasn’t a jab at Musk. “It has nothing to do with Musk,” an unnamed source claimed, pointing to the Senate’s vote timing as a mere coincidence. Sure, and I’ve got a bridge to sell you—most folks can see this as a clear signal of deeper tensions.
For Musk, the withdrawal of Isaacman’s nomination was the breaking point, leading to a very public spat with Trump on Thursday.
He didn’t hold back, accusing Trump of ties to unsavory figures and blasting the administration over unrelated policy disagreements. When you’ve got a megaphone like Musk’s, airing dirty laundry gets messy fast.
The administration pushed back hard, denying any retaliatory motive. They noted that several of Musk’s other picks for roles like secretary of the Air Force and head of the General Services Administration are moving through confirmation.
Still, being denied choices for the CIA and IRS must sting—perhaps a reminder that even billionaires don’t always get their way.
Behind closed doors, Musk’s feud with Sergio Gor, Director of the Presidential Personnel Office, didn’t help matters. White House officials felt Musk overstepped, acting like a shadow co-president. It’s a bold move to play kingmaker, but not everyone in Trump’s court is ready to bow.
Isaacman himself tried to downplay the drama, urging reconciliation between Musk and Trump while shrugging off the impact of his nomination’s collapse. That’s a classy move, though his tepid congratulations to Trump after the November win—visible on his X account—probably didn’t win him any extra points. Sometimes, a lukewarm handshake speaks louder than words.