Because of campaign donations for Democrats: Trump drops NASA chief designate

A few days before his confirmation by the US Senate, Donald Trump withdrew the nomination of Jared Isaacman for the position of NASA chief. The change of heart in the home stretch is apparently due to campaign donations that Elon Musk's confidant has made to prominent Democratic politicians in the past. At least that's what the New York Times reports, citing several anonymous sources. Trump himself explained that the move came “after a thorough review of Isaacman's past connections”. He has already thanked him for his support “on this trip”. He should actually be confirmed in the coming days.

Musk unhappy with decision

Trump had already declared shortly after his election victory in the fall that he wanted to make Isaacman head of the US space agency. He made his fortune as the founder and CEO of a payment service provider, which is now called Shift4 Payments. However, he has achieved great fame as a space tourist, having flown into space twice on SpaceX spaceships. He paid for the flights himself and apparently built up a relationship of trust with SpaceX boss Elon Musk in the process. He apparently ensured that Isaacman was sent to the confirmation process as the designated head of NASA. His removal now underlines Musk's diminished influence in the US capital.

It is unclear what will happen next with the appointment of the NASA chief. Trump himself has announced that he will now nominate someone who is “mission-oriented” and “puts America first in space”. Musk regretted the decision on his short message service X. It is very rare to find someone who is as “competent and has such a good heart” as Isaacman, he wrote there. Musk left the White House on Friday after weeks of alleged cost-cutting measures that caused increasing discontent in the country as government spending and agencies were decimated in a sometimes chaotic manner.

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(mho)