An escalating feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump threatens to disrupt key U.S. space programs and jeopardize $22 billion in government contracts with SpaceX.
A public clash between SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump has raised alarms in Washington and beyond, as political tensions risk spilling into the future of American space exploration.
The fallout began after Musk sharply criticized Trump’s tax and spending proposals, prompting a combative response from Trump during Oval Office remarks. What followed was a volley of attacks on social media, culminating in Trump threatening to revoke federal contracts held by Musk’s companies. In retaliation, Musk said he would begin decommissioning the Dragon spacecraft - SpaceX’s crew vehicle used by NASA.
Though Musk later walked back that statement, calling it “good advice” to cool off, his initial threat sent shockwaves through the aerospace industry. The Dragon capsule is central to U.S. crewed spaceflight under a $5 billion NASA contract and currently serves as the only American vehicle transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS).
SpaceX holds approximately $22 billion in government contracts, including missions with both NASA and the Pentagon. The prospect of politically motivated cancellations could seriously undermine U.S. space ambitions, experts warn.
The spat has also fractured a once-cozy relationship between Musk and Trump, which had previously led to favorable policy shifts for SpaceX - ranging from Mars mission proposals to expanded military launch access.
NASA declined to comment directly on the matter. Spokesperson Bethany Stevens stated only that the agency would “continue to work with our industry partners to ensure the president’s objectives in space are met.”
If SpaceX were to pull the Dragon from service, it could disrupt international collaboration aboard the ISS, a cornerstone of space diplomacy.
North Korea strongly condemned the U.S. strike on Iran, calling it a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security interests.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will hold an emergency Board of Governors meeting today after U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Canberra supports the U.S. strike on Iran and calls for de-escalation and diplomacy.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that U.S. strikes hit entrances to tunnels storing part of Iran’s enriched uranium at the Isfahan nuclear site.
Global oil prices surged on Sunday as the Israel-Iran conflict continued to rattle markets, with Brent crude rising 3.9% to $80 per barrel and U.S. crude climbing 4.3% to $77 per barrel.
North Korea strongly condemned the U.S. strike on Iran, calling it a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security interests.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will hold an emergency Board of Governors meeting today after U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Canberra supports the U.S. strike on Iran and calls for de-escalation and diplomacy.
China has condemned the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, warning it has undermined Washington’s credibility and risks triggering a broader regional crisis.
Some Democratic and Republican lawmakers are urging Congress to limit President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran, warning against deeper U.S. involvement in the escalating Middle East conflict.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the recent American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities inflicted “monumental damage,” citing satellite images as evidence.
North Korea strongly condemned the U.S. strike on Iran, calling it a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security interests.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will hold an emergency Board of Governors meeting today after U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Canberra supports the U.S. strike on Iran and calls for de-escalation and diplomacy.
China has condemned the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, warning it has undermined Washington’s credibility and risks triggering a broader regional crisis.
North Korea strongly condemned the U.S. strike on Iran, calling it a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security interests.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will hold an emergency Board of Governors meeting today after U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Canberra supports the U.S. strike on Iran and calls for de-escalation and diplomacy.
China has condemned the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, warning it has undermined Washington’s credibility and risks triggering a broader regional crisis.
Some Democratic and Republican lawmakers are urging Congress to limit President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran, warning against deeper U.S. involvement in the escalating Middle East conflict.
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