Elon Musk’s brief flirtation with decommissioning SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft fizzled faster than a progressive policy in a red state.
Fox Business reported that in a heated Thursday spat, Musk announced SpaceX would scrap Dragon after President Donald Trump threatened to axe Musk’s government contracts, only to backtrack hours later amid public outcry.
The feud, rooted in a budget bill dispute, underscores the high-stakes tension between two titans who’d rather tweet than talk. Musk’s initial bombshell came after Trump’s Truth Social post, which floated slashing Musk’s subsidies to save “billions and billions.”
“In light of the President’s statement … SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately,” Musk declared, tossing a match on an already tense situation.
Turns out, actions have consequences, and Musk’s knee-jerk move sent shockwaves through the space industry.
Five hours later, Musk hit the brakes, swayed by an X user’s plea to “cool off.” “Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon,” Musk replied, proving even billionaires can’t resist a sensible stranger online.
The swift reversal spared Dragon, but the episode exposed raw nerves in Musk’s orbit. At the feud’s core is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a Trump-backed plan promising $1.6 trillion in cuts and historic tax relief.
Musk, eyeing the $36 trillion national debt, branded the bill “a disgusting abomination,” clashing with Trump’s vision to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump warned a 68% tax hike looms if the bill fails, raising the stakes for both men. NASA’s Bethany Stevens calmly sidestepped the drama, affirming the agency’s commitment to Trump’s space goals.
“We will continue to work with our industry partners,” Stevens said, signaling NASA’s focus on results over rhetoric.
Her steady hand contrasts with the Musk-Trump fireworks, offering a rare moment of bureaucratic clarity. X user @Fab25june played peacemaker, urging both men to “take a step back for a couple days.”
The advice landed, with Musk’s quick pivot showing a willingness to de-escalate, at least for now.
Yet, with egos this big, don’t bet on a lasting truce.
Trump’s push for the bill reflects a broader fight to rein in runaway spending, a cause conservatives cheer. “This puts our Country on a Path of Greatness,” Trump insisted, framing the bill as a fix for a fiscal mess he didn’t create.
But Musk’s dissent, while brash, highlights legitimate worries about bloated budgets—a point even MAGA folks can’t dismiss. The public squabble unfolded on social media, where Trump mused he was “surprised” Biden hadn’t targeted Musk’s contracts.
Musk’s rapid-fire response and retreat played out on X, proving the platform remains a battleground for ideas—and egos.
In this digital dust-up, neither man emerged unscathed, but the nation watched, transfixed. With Dragon safe for now, SpaceX avoids a self-inflicted wound, but Musk’s clash with Trump signals choppy waters ahead.
