Donald Trump names billionaire tech founder and friend of Elon Musk as next head of NASA
Some have referred to him as a 'space tourist'
Featured Image Credit: Jon Kopaloff / Stringer / Michael M. Santiago / Staff / Getty
Donald Trump is reaching for the stars during his next presidency, and as he returns to the White House to enter the history books as both the 45th and 47th President of the United States, he's promising to do things differently this time. Feeling like Trump 2.0, this tech-savvy POTUS has promised to push the tech industry forward, spend big on defense, and also somehow cutting $2 trillion from government spending with the help of Elon Musk's Department of Government Spending.
While the presidential inauguration isn't until January 20, 2025, Trump has been busy naming his new cabinet. Alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. being named as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Susie Wiles will be Trump's Chief of Staff, Marco Rubio is the Secretary of State, and Pam Bondi is the Attorney General.
Trump has now added another key name to his inner circle, naming Jared Isaacman as the next Administrator of NASA.
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Isaacman's appointment comes as something of a shock, with the billionaire tech founder climbing to the top of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Some might consider Isaacman as something of a 'space tourist', having served as commander of 2021's Inspiration4 SpaceX flight.
He returned to the stars in 2024 on the Crew Dragon spacecraft and became the first private citizen to go on a spacewalk.
There's already some controversy, with critics pointing out that Isaacman has never worked for NASA or even held a government position. Questions have also arisen about his closeness to Elon Musk, with the pair being firm friends. Isaacman has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on private missions, making him one of SpaceX's biggest customers. As Musk is now firmly by Trump's side, some are connecting the dots.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: "Jared will drive NASA's mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in Space science, technology, and exploration."
It's speculated that giving him this position is part of an effort to emphasize private-public partnerships for NASA while also providing SpaceX with a potential windfall. Either way, the role will see him head up the Artemis Program's missions to put mankind back on the surface of the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 went there in 1972.
Hoping he's up to the challenge, Isaaman had the following to say on X: "At NASA, we will passionately pursue these possibilities and usher in an era where humanity becomes a true spacefaring civilization,"
"On my last mission to space, my crew and I traveled farther from Earth than anyone in over half a century. I can confidently say this second space age has only just begun."
Saying he's 'grateful to serve', Isaacman concluded: "It is the honor of a lifetime to serve in this role and to work alongside NASA’s extraordinary team to realize our shared dreams of exploration and discovery."
With NASA handling a budget of around $25 billion, let's hope Isaacman continues being good with his numbers.