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.
The U.S. budget deficit surged nearly 20% in July to $291 billion despite a significant increase in customs duty collections from President Trump’s ...
On Tuesday, The United States has imposed sanctions on a Congolese militia, mining company, and Hong Kong exporters over armed violence and illegal mi...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of ongoing Russian troop advances in eastern Ukraine ahead of the upcoming Trump-Putin summit, emphasiz...
Chinese authorities have summoned major tech firms, including Tencent and ByteDance, over their purchases of Nvidia’s H20 AI chips, raising concerns...
On 12 August, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov spoke by phone with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan....
Chinese authorities have summoned major tech firms, including Tencent and ByteDance, over their purchases of Nvidia’s H20 AI chips, raising concerns about information security and urging companies to rely on domestic suppliers amid escalating regulatory scrutiny.
On 12 August, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov spoke by phone with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
The move highlights Turkish Airlines' ongoing commitment to grow its international network, particularly in key markets like China, amid global aviation recovery.
U.S.-based Newsmax television channel has aired a special programme devoted to the landmark Washington summit between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
On Tuesday, The United States has imposed sanctions on a Congolese militia, mining company, and Hong Kong exporters over armed violence and illegal mineral sales in eastern Congo, aiming to promote peace and economic stability in the region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of ongoing Russian troop advances in eastern Ukraine ahead of the upcoming Trump-Putin summit, emphasizing Ukraine’s determination to hold the Donbas region and calling for territorial talks only after a ceasefire and security guarantees.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump will hold their first summit on 25 August in Washington to discuss ways to deepen their alliance and expand cooperation in economic security, according to Lee’s office.
In Monterrey, Mexico, a new AI-powered robot dog named “Waldog” is drawing attention to animal abuse and welfare.
Homelessness in the United States is at record highs and still rising in 2025. A federal count last year found over 770,000 people without a home, a crisis fuelled by scarce affordable housing, rising costs, migration pressures, and the pandemic’s lasting impact.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment