Inside the Musk-Trump feud: This adviser is said to have triggered the most talked-about split in politics
President Donald Trump's recent surprise decision to withdraw Elon Musk's favored candidate for NASA chief has pushed the billionaire entrepreneur and the White House into a rare and public feud. The president canceled Jared Isaacman's nomination as NASA administrator just days after Musk left the White House, fueling tensions between two of the most powerful figures in the country.
Why did Trump pull Jared Isaacman's NASA nomination despite Senate support?
Jared Isaacman, a billionaire pilot and astronaut, was widely expected to be confirmed as NASA administrator this week after winning Senate committee approval in April. Isaacman is well-known for his role in Musk's Dragon program and for flying to space during Operation Polaris Dawn in 2024. But the nomination hit a snag because Isaacman had donated to several Democratic candidates, including those who challenged GOP senators Tim Sheehy of Montana and Bernie Moreno of Ohio in the 2024 elections.
Reports from Axios reveal that Trump's top White House personnel official, Sergio Gor, played a key role in derailing the nomination. Gor, who manages White House staffing decisions, flagged Isaacman's Democratic donations to Trump, pushing the president to reconsider. Despite Musk's support and their private discussions about Isaacman, Trump decided the candidate's political ties were not suitable for the position, stating on Truth Social, 'I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA.' Musk expressed disappointment, calling Isaacman 'competent and good-hearted' on X.
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Who is Sergio Gor, and why did he oppose Elon Musk's pick?
Sergio Gor is a powerful and influential White House aide responsible for overseeing personnel choices in the Trump administration. A longtime ally of Senator Rand Paul, Gor moved to Trump's team in 2019 and has close ties to Donald Trump Jr., even officiating Rep. Matt Gaetz's wedding in 2021. Gor also co-founded Trump Jr.'s publishing company and manages a pro-Trump super PAC that spent nearly $72 million in the 2024 election cycle.
Sources suggest Gor and Musk have had a tense relationship, and Gor's decision to expose Isaacman's political donations was seen by insiders as a parting 'f**k you' to Musk. The Axios report highlights that Gor didn't appreciate Musk's involvement in personnel matters, adding friction between the two.
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How did the Trump-Musk fallout unfold publicly?
The conflict between Trump and Musk exploded last week. After Musk publicly criticized Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' Trump retaliated by urging the deportation of the SpaceX founder and threatened to revoke Musk's multibillion-dollar government contracts. Musk responded sharply, calling for Trump's impeachment and linking him to Jeffrey Epstein, intensifying their bitter exchange.
The feud hit Wall Street hard as Tesla's stock plummeted, wiping around $27 billion off Musk's net worth in one of his worst days financially. White House aides tried to mediate, even attempting to arrange a crisis call to patch things up, but talks fell apart by Friday morning.
Can Trump and Musk reconcile despite their public spat?
Bill Ackman, billionaire hedge fund manager, stepped in with a public appeal on X urging the two men to bury the hatchet 'for the benefit of our great country,' reminding them, 'we are much stronger together than apart.' Musk's brief reply, 'You're not wrong,' hinted at some willingness to find common ground.
Still, with Gor's influence in the White House and the public nature of the feud, a quick fix seems unlikely. Trump emphasized the importance of loyalty to the Republican Party for government nominations and appeared firm on his decision regarding Isaacman.
What does this conflict mean for NASA and U.S. space policy?
With Isaacman's nomination withdrawn, NASA faces uncertainty about its next leader. The rift underscores how political loyalty now plays a big role in key appointments, even in scientific agencies like NASA. Elon Musk, once a close ally of Trump's campaign and administration, is now openly at odds with the president, complicating collaboration between the government and private space ventures.
The dispute also raises questions about how much influence billionaires like Musk will have in shaping U.S. space policy amid growing partisan divides. For now, the clash remains a high-profile example of how politics can overshadow expertise and shared goals in America's space ambitions.
FAQs:
Why did Trump withdraw Jared Isaacman's NASA nomination despite Senate approval?
Trump's advisor Sergio Gor highlighted Isaacman's donations to Democrats, leading Trump to pull the nomination over political loyalty concerns.
How has the Trump-Musk feud affected NASA and space policy?
The public clash disrupted NASA's leadership plans and raised questions about political influence on U.S. space initiatives.
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