Tesla CEO, SpaceX and X owner Elon Musk welcomed U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to SpaceX's South Texas facility on Tuesday, where they witnessed a test launch of the Starship rocket.
Musk, also the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), explained the rocket's test procedures to Trump using a model before the two watched the launch together under the bright Texas sun.
The test, however, was not without its challenges. Unlike the previous month's successful test, the reusable booster failed to return to the launch pad as expected. Instead, it was diverted and successfully landed in the Gulf of Mexico.
The event bore witness to the increasingly close relationship between Musk and Trump, with potential far-reaching implications for U.S. politics, governance, foreign policy, and space exploration, including ambitions for future human missions to Mars.
Musk has been a significant financial supporter of Trump's political endeavors, contributing around $200 million to help secure his victory over Democrat Kamala Harris.
As a result, Musk has gained unprecedented access to the President-elect, advising on key administration appointments and even co-leading an advisory panel aimed at reducing federal bureaucracy.
This growing influence is not without personal benefit. SpaceX, under Musk's leadership, holds billions of dollars in government contracts, positioning the company as a key player in future space missions, including those targeting Mars.
As Tesla’s CEO, Musk has also faced regulatory scrutiny related to autonomous vehicle safety but has continued to build his business empire with significant political and financial support.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Musk shared a warning about entrenched Washington interests, writing, "Stop the Swamp!" He cautioned that these forces are working to undermine Trump before his inauguration.
Musk's relationship with Trump has evolved notably over the past few years. Two years ago, Musk was publicly critical of Trump, even suggesting that the President should "hang up his hat & sail into the sunset."
Now, however, Musk has become an integral part of Trump’s inner circle, garnering more attention than some of Trump’s other prominent supporters, like Ohio Senator JD Vance.
Trump regularly praises Musk's achievements at campaign events and even jokingly remarked at a recent Mar-a-Lago black-tie event that he "likes this place" because Musk is frequently present.
At that event, Trump lauded Musk’s intelligence and character, emphasizing how Musk had prioritized campaign support over even his rocket launches. Reflecting on the election outcome, Musk stated, “The public has given us a mandate that could not be more clear.”
This evolving partnership between Musk and Trump continues to shape political discourse as they chart a course for the future of American space exploration and governance.
(With inputs from TOI)
Musk, also the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), explained the rocket's test procedures to Trump using a model before the two watched the launch together under the bright Texas sun.
The test, however, was not without its challenges. Unlike the previous month's successful test, the reusable booster failed to return to the launch pad as expected. Instead, it was diverted and successfully landed in the Gulf of Mexico.
The event bore witness to the increasingly close relationship between Musk and Trump, with potential far-reaching implications for U.S. politics, governance, foreign policy, and space exploration, including ambitions for future human missions to Mars.
Musk has been a significant financial supporter of Trump's political endeavors, contributing around $200 million to help secure his victory over Democrat Kamala Harris.
As a result, Musk has gained unprecedented access to the President-elect, advising on key administration appointments and even co-leading an advisory panel aimed at reducing federal bureaucracy.
This growing influence is not without personal benefit. SpaceX, under Musk's leadership, holds billions of dollars in government contracts, positioning the company as a key player in future space missions, including those targeting Mars.
As Tesla’s CEO, Musk has also faced regulatory scrutiny related to autonomous vehicle safety but has continued to build his business empire with significant political and financial support.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Musk shared a warning about entrenched Washington interests, writing, "Stop the Swamp!" He cautioned that these forces are working to undermine Trump before his inauguration.
Musk's relationship with Trump has evolved notably over the past few years. Two years ago, Musk was publicly critical of Trump, even suggesting that the President should "hang up his hat & sail into the sunset."
Now, however, Musk has become an integral part of Trump’s inner circle, garnering more attention than some of Trump’s other prominent supporters, like Ohio Senator JD Vance.
Trump regularly praises Musk's achievements at campaign events and even jokingly remarked at a recent Mar-a-Lago black-tie event that he "likes this place" because Musk is frequently present.
At that event, Trump lauded Musk’s intelligence and character, emphasizing how Musk had prioritized campaign support over even his rocket launches. Reflecting on the election outcome, Musk stated, “The public has given us a mandate that could not be more clear.”
This evolving partnership between Musk and Trump continues to shape political discourse as they chart a course for the future of American space exploration and governance.
(With inputs from TOI)
