Donald Trump’s Masterstroke: Elon Musk’s Associate Jared Isaacman Appointed as NASA Chief

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): In a strategic move, US President Donald Trump has appointed Jared Isaacman, a close associate of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and a key figure in SpaceX missions, as the new head of NASA. Despite reports of past disagreements between Trump and Musk, this appointment signals a renewed collaboration in the field of space exploration.

Isaacman announced his appointment on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), sharing a photo with Trump. Interestingly, Trump had earlier removed Isaacman from NASA leadership following a fallout with Musk and had temporarily appointed US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as the acting NASA Administrator. Now, Isaacman has been reinstated to the same position.

Announcing the decision on social media, Trump wrote,

“I am pleased to nominate Jared Isaacman as Administrator of NASA. He is an exceptional business leader, pilot, and astronaut.”

The appointment will still require Congressional approval, but since Trump’s party currently holds a majority, Isaacman’s confirmation as NASA chief appears highly likely.

Trump added that Isaacman’s passion for space and vast experience would help in unlocking the mysteries of the universe and boosting the space economy.

After returning to power in January 2025, Trump had reportedly made the decision to reappoint Isaacman on Musk’s recommendation. Known for his close ties with SpaceX, Jared Isaacman served as the commander of SpaceX’s first civilian space mission, “Inspiration4,” in 2021. He is also expected to play a significant role in NASA’s upcoming Mars mission.