Topline
Billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, President Donald Trump’s former nominee for NASA administrator, said Wednesday the reason for his pulled nomination may have been made over his ties to Elon Musk, who has recently taken shots at Trump’s signature policy legislation following the end of his stint as a special government employee.
Key Facts
Isaacman said in an appearance on the All-In Podcast he was disappointed to hear about his nomination being revoked, noting the timing of it and Musk’s departure from the White House was not “much of a coincidence.”
Isaacman added there was “obviously more than one departure that was covered on that day,” saying “there were some people that had some axes to grind, I guess, and I was a good visible target.”
Trump withdrew Isaacman’s nomination Saturday, making the decision after “a thorough review of prior associations” and saying he would soon announce a new nominee.
Isaacman shot down speculation his nomination was withdrawn over donations he has made to Democrats, addressing a New York Times report that detailed the donations but noted they were old news already known by the Trump administration.
Isaacman also said he does not fault Trump’s decision and fully supports the president and his agenda.
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How Does Jared Isaacman Know Elon Musk?
Isaacman and Musk appear to have made the bulk of their connection through the space industry, as Isaacman has flown with Musk’s SpaceX on two occasions. The Times reported Trump is said to have deferred to Musk for choosing a NASA administrator, and that Musk personally lobbied for Isaacman to land the job.
Forbes Valuation
We estimate Isaacman’s net worth at $1.6 billion, a fortune constructed through his time as the head of payment processing firm Shift4 Payments and founding Draken International, a private defense company.
Key Background
Isaacman’s withdrawn nomination is the latest high-profile pick withdrawn by Trump, who removed Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., in March as his nominee for United Nations Ambassador and made health entrepreneur and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. adviser Dr. Casey Means his new pick for surgeon general last month. Isaacman lost his nomination a day after the end of Musk’s time as an official part of the Trump administration. Musk exited the White House, saying he would remain a “friend and adviser” to the president, but the world’s wealthiest person has since repeatedly attacked Trump’s signature policy bill, calling it a “massive, outrageous, pork-filled . . . disgusting abomination.”
Further Reading
‘KILL The BILL’: Musk Deepens Rant Against Trump’s Signature Policy Legislation (Forbes)
Musk Says He’ll Be Trump’s ‘Friend And Adviser’ After Leaving White House (Forbes)