In a surprising shake-up that signals shifting loyalties in Donald Trump’s orbit, the former president has picked Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to temporarily lead NASA—leaving Elon Musk and his longtime associate Jared Isaacman out in the cold.
The move comes after Trump abruptly pulled Isaacman’s nomination just weeks before a confirmation vote.
The billionaire entrepreneur, a private astronaut and SpaceX customer, had once been Trump’s top pick for NASA. But not anymore.
A Bold Pick with a Political Edge
Trump announced the appointment on Wednesday night via his Truth Social platform, praising Duffy for his “tremendous job” in transportation.
He credited him for modernizing air traffic control systems and revitalizing American infrastructure—and now, he says, it’s time for Duffy to turn his attention skyward.
“He will be a fantastic leader of the ever more important Space Agency, even if only for a short amount of time,” Trump wrote.
“Congratulations, and thank you, Sean!”
Duffy Accepts with a Launch-Ready Mindset
Sean Duffy, a former Wisconsin Congressman and Trump loyalist, responded enthusiastically on X (formerly Twitter), saying he was “honored to accept this mission.”
His parting words? “Time to take over space. Let’s launch.”
Though it’s labeled an “interim” role, the appointment sends a clear message that Trump wants someone he trusts—not someone from Elon Musk’s inner circle—at the helm of NASA.
A Sudden About-Face on Jared Isaacman
Trump’s decision to ditch Isaacman came as a surprise, especially after the billionaire had already cleared a Senate committee.
Just months ago, Trump described him as a model leader—“a business mogul, philanthropist, astronaut, and pilot.”
So what changed?
In Trump’s words, Isaacman’s “prior associations” were the problem.
More specifically, he was linked to Musk, whom Trump is now distancing himself from politically and personally.
He also noted that Isaacman is “a blue-blooded Democrat” who had never contributed to the GOP—though public records suggest he’s given to both parties.
Musk and Trump: The Bromance Is Over
Isaacman’s nomination originally made perfect sense during the height of Trump’s so-called “bromance” with Musk.
The two shared mutual admiration, and Isaacman was Musk’s handpicked astronaut, having flown to space twice aboard SpaceX rockets.
But things have soured between Trump and Musk, especially as the former president begins a new campaign push.
Trump even admitted that having “a very close friend of Elon” in charge of NASA felt inappropriate given Musk’s deep commercial ties to the agency.
Isaacman Responds with Grace
Taking to X, Isaacman kept his response calm and diplomatic.
He clarified that he disclosed all political donations prior to nomination—claiming they leaned “10x more” toward Republicans—and said his motivation was never about power or profit.
“I love my country and I care deeply about America’s competitiveness and leadership in space,” Isaacman wrote, calling himself a “right-leaning moderate” and “relatively apolitical.”
He also said that while he only knows Musk in a professional capacity, he holds great respect for what the tech mogul has accomplished.
A New Chapter Begins for NASA
Despite the political drama, Isaacman ended on a positive note.
He congratulated Duffy, calling his appointment “a great move” and emphasizing that NASA needs leadership from someone the president fully trusts.
As for what’s next at NASA, all eyes will be on Sean Duffy.
He’s stepping into one of the country’s most high-profile science roles at a time when space policy, private partnerships, and politics are more entwined than ever.
