In today’s political landscape, even space exploration isn’t safe from high-profile feuds.
What started as a war of words between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has spiraled into something far more complex, threatening billion-dollar government contracts and space missions.
Their escalating rivalry has turned from social media jabs to real-world consequences—especially for SpaceX.
Trump’s Online Rant Sparks a Contract Crackdown
Donald Trump didn’t hold back when he took to Truth Social to vent his frustrations.
He floated the idea that the federal government could save billions by canceling contracts with Musk’s companies, throwing in a pointed remark suggesting the billionaire might need to “head back home to South Africa.”
It was more than bluster—Trump’s administration began taking actual steps toward cutting ties with Musk.
Behind Closed Doors: Government Agencies Ordered to Investigate SpaceX Deals
Soon after the online tirade, senior officials moved into action.
According to The Wall Street Journal, someone high up in the General Services Administration asked the Department of Defense to compile a list of all active SpaceX contracts.
The same request reportedly went out to NASA. The goal? To see if other companies could do the job instead—and maybe do it cheaper.
Review Backfires as Government Admits SpaceX is Essential
While the aim was to find flaws in the relationship with SpaceX, the review revealed the opposite.
Insiders shared that the Department of Defense and NASA concluded most of their agreements with Musk’s company were crucial to national missions.
The agencies also realized just how dependent the U.S. has become on Musk’s innovations in space travel—mainly because there’s no serious competition in sight.
The SpaceX Monopoly and Why It’s Hard to Replace Musk
With rivals like Boeing lagging behind due to technical issues and delays, Musk’s grip on space-related services has only grown stronger.
From rocket launches to satellite deployments, SpaceX has become the go-to provider.
This near-monopoly made it all the more difficult for the government to justify ending ties with the company—despite the political heat.
Musk’s Crew Dragon Threats Stir Panic at NASA
Amid the political squabble, Musk threw a curveball that got NASA’s attention.
He suggested pulling the plug on Crew Dragon, the only U.S.-approved spacecraft capable of shuttling astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
This wasn’t just empty talk—the spacecraft had recently completed a critical mission rescuing two astronauts who were stuck on the ISS for almost 10 months.
SpaceX President Races to Calm the Storm
While the Musk-Trump feud played out publicly, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell reportedly stepped in behind the scenes.
She held meetings with White House officials during the review process, likely trying to protect the company’s standing and reassure the government that SpaceX wasn’t going anywhere.
Despite the Tension, Contracts Keep Rolling In
Interestingly, the political drama hasn’t stopped SpaceX from securing major new deals.
In 2025 alone, the company clinched a $5.9 billion contract for 28 national security missions.
It also launched a next-gen GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force and is scheduled to send a new NASA crew to the space station soon.
SpaceX might be controversial, but it’s still delivering results.
The Epstein Controversy Adds Fuel to the Fire
If things weren’t heated enough, Trump’s dismissal of the Epstein client list as a “hoax” further enraged Musk.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO took to his platform, X, to sarcastically question why Epstein “killed himself” and why Ghislaine Maxwell is in prison if it’s all just make-believe.
He doubled down by challenging Trump to release the files and let people judge for themselves.
Musk’s Political Ambitions and Trump’s Swipe at Subsidies
To protest Trump’s massive spending bill, Musk announced plans to launch his own political party, warning that the legislation could sink the economy under more debt.
Trump, never one to stay silent, clapped back by accusing Musk of benefiting from more government subsidies than anyone else in history.
He even joked that shutting Musk’s operations down could save America a fortune.
What Comes Next in This Cosmic Clash?
With government reliance on SpaceX still strong and no real alternatives in play, this feud is far from over.
The power struggle between Trump and Musk is shaping up to be more than a political sideshow—it’s influencing national policy, space exploration, and perhaps even the future of American innovation.
Whether it ends in reconciliation or deeper division, one thing is clear: this battle is reaching for the stars.