Trump Brings Back Musk Ally Jared Isaacman to Lead NASA — Months After Dropping Him

Donald Trump has decided to bring back an old pick to lead NASA. On Tuesday night, the president announced on Truth Social that he was nominating Jared Isaacman, a longtime ally of Elon Musk, to head the space agency.

Yes, the same Jared Isaacman he dropped earlier this year.

Trump first nominated Isaacman back in December, but then pulled the offer in May after raising concerns about Isaacman’s “prior associations.” At the time, Trump said he was “surprised to learn” that Isaacman was a “blue blooded Democrat, who had never contributed to a Republican before.”

Now, five months later, he’s changed his mind. Again.

“This evening, I am pleased to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of NASA,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Jared’s passion for space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new era.”

He congratulated Isaacman, along with his wife Monica and their two daughters, Mila and Liv.

Isaacman, who once piloted SpaceX’s first civilian crewed space mission, thanked Trump for the nomination. He posted on X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, saying, “It will be an honor to serve my country under your leadership. I am also very grateful to @SecDuffy, who skillfully oversees @NASA alongside his many other responsibilities.”

He added that support from the “space-loving community” had been “overwhelming,” writing, “I am not sure how I earned the trust of so many, but I will do everything I can to live up to those expectations.”

In a longer message to NASA employees and space enthusiasts, Isaacman said, “To the innovators building the orbital economy, to the scientists pursuing breakthrough discoveries, and to dreamers across the world eager for a return to the Moon and the grand journey beyond — these are the most exciting times since the dawn of the space age.”

He continued, “The journey is never easy, but it is time to inspire the world once again to achieve the near-impossible — to undertake and accomplish big, bold endeavors in space… and when we do, we will make life better here at home and challenge the next generation to go even further.”

That’s one way to make an entrance.

The move comes just months after a very public spat between Trump and Elon Musk. The two were once close allies until things soured earlier this year when Musk resigned from his government advisory post. After that, Trump abruptly withdrew Isaacman’s first nomination, which many saw as political payback.

But it seems the relationship has thawed. Last week, Trump told reporters he and Musk have been “talking on and off” and that their relationship is now “good.” They even sat together at the funeral of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month in Arizona.

And now, with Isaacman back in the picture, the truce looks official.

Trump also praised the man who has been running NASA in the meantime — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Duffy had been filling the role on an interim basis, though Musk didn’t seem impressed.

“The person responsible for America’s space program can’t have a two-digit IQ,” Musk wrote on X in October. In another post, he added, “Sean Dummy is trying to kill NASA!”

Trump, however, said Duffy had done “an incredible job” while the search for a permanent chief was underway. Still, Duffy is reportedly disappointed to lose the job and had even suggested moving NASA under the Department of Transportation.

That idea didn’t quite make orbit.

Trump’s new pick, Isaacman, is not only Musk’s ally but also a wealthy entrepreneur who founded the payment company Shift4. His nomination signals that Trump still sees space — and perhaps Musk — as key to his legacy.

Featured image via Youtube screengrab