by Jianli Yang
In recent weeks, much attention has been given to Elon Musk advising President Trump to block a spending bill that would have restricted American investments in China. Less, however, has been said about the Trump administration’s defense industry confirmations, which have significant connections to Musk’s company, SpaceX.
The ties raise critical concerns about U.S. national security, as having so many defense officials linked to SpaceX could undermine the nation’s defense interests by driving more contracts to the company — despite its potential vulnerabilities to Chinese influence. This dynamic could inadvertently aid China’s quest to outmaneuver the U.S. in space
If the Senate confirms Trump nominees Jared Isaacman and Emil Michael, Musk would benefit from substantial representation within the U.S. defense establishment.
Source: hhttps://thehill.com/opinion/5122059-elons-musk-space-starlink-concerns/
This article first appeared in The Hill on Feb 3, 2025
