US President Donald Trump has withdrawn the nomination of tech billionaire Jared Isaacman to lead NASA, citing a “thorough review” of Isaacman’s prior associations. The nature of these associations remains unclear, and the White House has yet to provide clarification.
Isaacman, 42, a longtime collaborator of Elon Musk and known for his private spaceflight ventures with SpaceX, was initially nominated during Mr Trump’s presidential transition in December. His ties to Mr Musk had fueled speculation about a more commercially driven future for NASA.
Following the announcement, Mr Musk expressed disappointment on social media, calling Isaacman “competent and good-hearted.” Mr Trump, meanwhile, stated that a new nominee will be announced soon.
