The White House has changed its mind on Jared Isaacman, the nominee for NASA administrator who was ready to be confirmed by the US Senate. A friend of Elon Musk, Mr. Isaacman made the mistake of giving donations to a few Democratic candidates in the past. This is forbidden unless you are Donald Trump, who has made many donations to Democratic candidates over the years, including Hillary Clinton.
NBC News noted that President Trump stated:
After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA…I will soon announce a new Nominee who will be Mission aligned, and put America First in Space.
It is not clear how political donations has anything to do with putting America first, but this is all we know to date.
Mr. Isaacman has been unceremoniously tossed aside just as Elon Musk is stepping down from his DOGE role after badmouthing the recent Republican House budget bill. Is there a connection?
All we know is that Mr. Musk is losing a friend and customer in the NASA role with Isaacman’s departure. This does not come at a good time as SpaceX struggles with its Starship rocket.
It appears Mr. Musks plans are undergoing a rapid unscheduled disassembly.
Update: Jared Isaacman tweeted about the recent news, stating, in part:
I am incredibly grateful to President Trump @POTUS, the Senate and all those who supported me throughout this journey. The past six months have been enlightening and, honestly, a bit thrilling. I have gained a much deeper appreciation for the complexities of government and the weight our political leaders carry.
Our Awesome Universe 