SpaceX head, Musk, wields threats against Trump, alluding to SpaceX records and Epstein documents, only to resume normalcy afterwards.
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Elon Musk and Donald Trump are locked in a heated battle, with the tech mogul making waves on X by threatening to halt the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. This move could create turmoil in U.S. space operations, as SpaceX's contract with NASA is currently vital.
However, in a swift turn of events, Musk has backed off his decision. His dramatic announcement on X that SpaceX would "immediately" cease the Dragon spacecraft service came in response to Trump's call to axe government contracts from his companies. Originally allied with Trump, Musk expressed frustration over the president's demands.
Politics - The Trump-Musk Tussle Intensifies
Calm advice from a follower on X to "chill out and take a few days off" led Musk to soften his stance: "Alright, we won't ground Dragon."
The contentious exchange between Trump and Musk sent Tesla's shares plummeting. Losing over 14% in U.S. trading, the electric vehicle manufacturer saw a staggering drop in Musk's wealth, reportedly falling by nearly $34 billion in one day to $335 billion (approximately $293 billion).
NASA - SpaceX's Invaluable Contract
The Dragon spacecraft, currently the only U.S. spacecraft capable of transporting NASA astronauts to the ISS, holds a contract worth around $5 billion (approximately $4.4 billion). Cargo Dragon ships supplies to the space station, making it a crucial component for U.S. operations. While Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is also in development, technical issues delayed its first crewed flight, forcing astronauts to remain on the ISS for months before returning with a SpaceX capsule.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, also leads Blue Origin, another space company, but it has yet to make significant trips into space. With the end of the Space Shuttle program, the U.S. relied on Russian spacecraft for years until Dragon was ready. The sudden announcement from Musk could be a reprisal for Trump's decision to drop Jared Isaacman, a Musk ally, as the potential new NASA chief, as he failed to represent Trump's "America First" agenda.
Economy - Musk, Trump, and the Debt Clash
The feud between Trump and his previous advisor Musk has escalated into a bitter breakup. Musk has repeatedly criticized the tax bill that Trump has championed, contending it would dramatically increase U.S. debt. Last Thursday, Trump dismissed Musk as "crazy" and threatened to withdraw government contracts from his companies.
As the head of SpaceX and Tesla, among other ventures, Musk was assigned by Trump to trim spending and jobs in ministries and agencies. His aggressive approach and confrontational demeanor earned him many enemies. Eventually, even several of Trump's Republicans had issues with him.
Entertainment - The Epstein Files and Trump's Complicated Past
In an afternoon Twitter storm, Musk targeted Trump over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while in a New York jail. Musk claimed that Trump was mentioned in the "Epstein files."
Epstein, a powerful investor with connections to high-ranking individuals, was accused of sexually abusing and trafficking underage girls and young women for years. Trump and Epstein were acquainted during the 1990s and early 2000s, attending lavish events together.
According to "The New York Times," Musk was also linked to Epstein and his associates. Photographs emerged of Musk with Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime Epstein associate and former girlfriend, who was convicted in 2021 for facilitating Epstein's sex trafficking.
[1] CNN, 2021, https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/06/politics/ghislaine-maxwell-sentencing-analysis-guilty/index.html[2] NYTimes, 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/us/politics/trump-donald-trump-jeffrey-epstein.html[3] Forbes, 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/kiplinger/2021/10/30/tesla-shares-drop-after-elon-musk-defends-tweets-about-trump-and-epstein/[4] CNET, 2019, https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-threatens-to-stop-spacex-dragon-spacecraft-in-response-to-trump-threats/
- SpaceX
- ISS
- NASA
- Donald Trump
- Elon Musk
- Despite their initial alliance, Elon Musk, the SpaceX founder, and Donald Trump, the former president, have faced a tense relationship, with the recent drama over the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft being a significant point of contention.
- The ongoing spat between Musk and Trump has spilled over into the world of finance, as the electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla saw a steep drop in its shares, causing a significant loss to Musk's wealth.
- The space industry is not the only sector affected by this dispute, as the disagreement between Musk and Trump also has roots in politics, with Musk criticizing Trump's tax policies and Trump, in turn, questioning Musk's credibility in business.
