Billionaire who performed the first private spacewalk is Trump’s pick to lead NASA
Trump Taps SpaceX Partner Isaacman as NASA's New Chief
Above: Polaris Dawn Mission Commander Jared Isaacman on Sept. 16, 2022. Image copyright: Jonathan Newton/Contributor/The Washington Post via Getty Images
The Facts
US Pres.-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated Jared Isaacman, a 41-year-old tech billionaire and private astronaut, to lead NASA as its next administrator, replacing current administrator Bill Nelson.
Isaacman, founder of payment processing company Shift4 and defense contractor Draken International, has completed two spaceflights with Elon Musk's SpaceX and conducted the first-ever private spacewalk in September 2023.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Trump's bold selection brings a fresh perspective and private-sector innovation to NASA's leadership. Isaacman's extensive spaceflight experience and business acumen make him ideally suited to accelerate space exploration and commercialization while transforming NASA's traditional approach.
Democratic narrative
Trump's latest appointment raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to Isaacman's close ties to SpaceX and Elon Musk. His lack of government experience and risk-taking background might not align with NASA's need for careful risk management and balanced program oversight. The era of the problematic "space billionaire" is reaching cosmic new heights.
