Trump Makes Threats. SpaceX Is Too Big to Cancel.
About the author: Kathleen Curlee is a research analyst at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology.
Elon Musk departed Washington and his post as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency last week after an unsuccessful attempt to slash government spending. Along the way, he had seemingly damaged his relationships and reputation—with officials and with his companies’ customers. Now his relationship with President Donald Trump has imploded, too, with both trading barbs on social media today. Trump even threatened to “terminate” the government subsidies and contracts awarded to Musk’s companies, Tesla and SpaceX.