Featured Image Credit: Kevin Dietsch / Staff via Getty
The next head of NASA gave an ambiguous response when asked if Elon Musk was present during his interview for the space agency.
Jared Isaacman's is a billionaire entrepreneur who's previously flown missions with SpaceX and is President Donald Trump’s pick to lead NASA.
Trump announced the pick shortly after interviewing Isaacman at Mar-a-Lago, the President's Florida estate, late last year. SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk was in Florida at the time as well.
However, things got a little awkward during Isaacman’s Senate confirmation on 9 April.
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During the hearing, senators grilled the private astronaut on everything from Mars plans and NASA's climate mission to the specifics of his job interview. But Isaacman found it strangely difficult to confirm whether the Tesla CEO was sitting in on his job interview - or at least in the room. Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) pointed out that Musk and Isaacman were both in Florida around the same time Trump announced Isaacman as his choice for NASA chief.
"I understand that you met with Elon Musk at Mar-a-Lago in late 2024. Is that correct?" Markey asked Isaacman to which he dodged: "No, Senator, I was in Mar-a-Lago to be interviewed by the President of the United States."
Markey questioned again: "So you did not meet with Elon Musk at Mar-a-Lago?" Isaacman repeated that he was there to be interviewed by Trump.
After continuous pressing, he finally admitted that Musk was 'probably one of dozens of people' around Mar-a-Lago at the time that he may have spoken to 'in passing' but stressed that it was 'not a meeting.'
Then, the Senator asked: "Was Elon Musk in your meeting when Trump offered you the NASA position at Mar-a-Lago?"
Giving a vague answer, Isaacman said: "Senator, I was being interviewed by the President of the United States."
The Senator pushed the question several times and described that it 'wasn't a difficult question', but the 42-year-old stuck to his word, repeating that his meeting had been with Trump. "I'm assuming that you don't want to answer the question directly because Elon Musk was in the room," Markey replied. "I think that's the only conclusion anyone listening to this could reach."
He explained that Isaacman was 'not willing to be fully transparent,' leading the Senate to conclude that Musk was in the room during the interview. Later in the hearing, Isaacman clarified that he 'had not discussed' any NASA plans with Musk - which, again, seems a little odd considering his close ties to SpaceX.
At another point in the hearing, Trump’s choice for NASA chief also made it clear that trips to the Moon are still on the table, but the real focus is Mars.
“As the president stated, we will prioritise sending astronauts to Mars," Isaacman said. "Along the way, we will inevitably have the capabilities to return to the moon and determine the scientific, economic, and national security benefits of maintaining a presence.”
