It’s not every day that a billionaire space mogul and a former president go head-to-head over rockets, taxpayer money, and one of the most controversial criminal cases in recent history.
But that’s exactly what happened when Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s feud hit boiling point—so much so that it nearly disrupted the U.S. government’s partnership with SpaceX.
Trump Tries to Pull the Plug on SpaceX Deals
At the peak of his very public spat with Elon Musk, Donald Trump reportedly wanted to cut all government ties with SpaceX.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump floated the idea of axing contracts with Musk’s companies altogether, suggesting it would save taxpayers money—and cheekily implying Musk could “head back home to South Africa.”
This all unfolded after Musk slammed Trump’s controversial “Big Beautiful Bill” and criticized his refusal to disclose more information about his past connection to Jeffrey Epstein.
In retaliation, Trump not only fired back with personal jabs but also pushed for a full review of federal contracts tied to SpaceX.
Federal Agencies Ordered to Investigate SpaceX Contracts
According to The Wall Street Journal, shortly after Trump’s remarks, a top official at the General Services Administration asked the Pentagon to break down every existing contract and agreement it held with SpaceX.
The idea was to provide a detailed overview to the White House—and potentially find alternatives.
NASA also received similar instructions.
The administration wanted to know: could another company take over if SpaceX was sidelined?
The Government Realizes It Can’t Ditch Musk That Easily
But there was a problem: the review revealed that replacing SpaceX isn’t that simple.
In fact, most of the contracts were considered mission-critical, especially for NASA and national security.
SpaceX has become so central to America’s space and defense efforts that walking away just isn’t a viable option right now.
SpaceX isn’t just another contractor—it’s leading the pack in rocket launches and satellite services.
Other companies like Boeing are still playing catch-up, especially after a string of technical setbacks.
Musk Threatens to Ground NASA’s Only Certified Crew Vehicle
In the heat of this drama, Musk made a bold move.
He hinted at pulling the plug on Crew Dragon—the only U.S. certified spacecraft currently capable of ferrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
That raised alarm bells at NASA, especially since Crew Dragon had just been used in a critical mission to rescue two astronauts who’d been stranded in space for nearly 10 months.
SpaceX Keeps Winning Deals Despite the Chaos
While the Trump-Musk drama continued to unfold, SpaceX didn’t slow down.
The company secured a $5.9 billion contract in 2025 to carry out 28 national security launches.
In May, it also successfully launched an upgraded GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force.
Another crewed NASA mission is already lined up in the coming weeks.
Even though their personal relationship is tense, the U.S. government still depends heavily on Musk’s aerospace empire.
The “Big Beautiful Bill” Sparks a Political Rift
A major point of tension remains Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill—a massive spending plan that Musk has publicly criticized.
He’s even threatened to start his own political party in response, warning that the bill could push America further into debt by another $3.3 to $4.5 billion.
Trump didn’t take that lightly. He fired back, accusing Musk of being overly dependent on federal subsidies and claiming the U.S. could save billions if they just cut ties with his businesses entirely.
Epstein Comments Add More Fuel to the Fire
Things got even messier when Trump downplayed the infamous Epstein client list, calling it a “hoax” allegedly fabricated by Democrats.
Musk wasn’t having it. He responded bluntly on X (formerly Twitter), sarcastically commenting on Epstein’s suspicious death and calling on Trump to release the full files.
“Wow, amazing that Epstein ‘killed himself’ and Ghislaine is in federal prison for a hoax,” Musk wrote.
“He should just release the files and point out which part is the hoax,” he added.
MAGA Supporters Turn Up the Pressure
Musk’s growing attacks reflect a broader unease among Trump’s own MAGA supporters.
Many in the base are becoming frustrated with the way the president has handled issues like Epstein’s connections—and Musk seems more than willing to voice their concerns publicly.
A Clash of Billionaires, Politics, and Power
At its core, this feud between Trump and Musk is about more than just contracts or tweets.
It’s about who gets to shape the future—whether in politics, space, or public perception.
As both men continue to fire shots, one thing is clear: their rivalry is reshaping the political and technological landscape in real time.