Elon Musk just isn’t a fan of NASA Appearing Administrator Sean Duffy.
The SpaceX founder and CEO has hammered Duffy repeatedly on social media over the previous few days, calling him “Sean Dummy” (which he later amended to “Sean ‘Dangerously Silly’ Dummy”) and claiming that Duffy “is making an attempt to kill NASA.”
Ought to somebody whose greatest declare to fame is climbing timber be working America’s house program? 🤔October 21, 2025
This barrage did not come out of left discipline. It adopted on the heels of Duffy’s announcement that NASA will reopen competitors for the Artemis 3 moon-landing contract, which SpaceX received in April 2021. The corporate plans to make use of a modified higher stage of its Starship megarocket for that mission, which can put astronauts down on the lunar floor for the primary time since 1972. The present plan requires Artemis 3 astronauts to launch atop a NASA House Launch System rocket, then trip an Orion capsule to lunar orbit, the place they’re going to meet up with Starship for the journey down.
Duffy, nonetheless, voiced issues that Starship is probably not prepared on NASA’s desired Artemis 3 timeline, which now includes a 2028 launch goal.
“I like SpaceX; it is an incredible firm. The issue is, they’re behind. They’ve pushed their timelines out, and we’re in a race in opposition to China,” Duffy said on Monday (Oct. 20) throughout an look on CNBC’s “Squawk Field.”
“The president and I need to get to the moon on this president’s time period, so I am gonna open up the contract,” he added. “I am gonna let different house firms compete with SpaceX, like Blue Origin.”
Musk didn’t appear glad about that. He responded by noting that Blue Origin has by no means delivered a “helpful payload” to Earth orbit — one thing SpaceX has executed tons of of occasions — after which made a prediction: “SpaceX is transferring like lightning in comparison with the remainder of the house trade. Furthermore, Starship will find yourself doing the entire moon mission. Mark my phrases.”
Musk additionally responded in one other, much less substantive means, posting a meme on X asking Duffy why he’s “gae.”
Musk’s beef with Duffy seems to increase past the Artemis 3 contract subject, nonetheless. The SpaceX chief has lengthy backed fellow billionaire and personal astronaut Jared Isaacman for NASA administrator — a submit Isaacman was poised to safe till President Trump abruptly withdrew his nomination on Might 31.
Trump himself nominated Isaacman however had a change of coronary heart very late within the recreation, citing the tech entrepreneur’s previous donations to Democratic politicians and alleged shut relationship with Musk. That call resulted in Duffy taking the company over in an performing capability.
In a twist, Isaacman now seems to be back in the mix as a candidate for the highest NASA job. However Duffy is eager to carry onto the place, in accordance with each The Wall Street Journal and Ars Technica.
Each retailers additionally reported that Duffy might search to fold NASA into the Division of Transportation, an company additionally led by the previous lumberjack and actuality TV star. (Duffy was on the sixth season of MTV’s “The Actual World,” which aired in 1997.)
Having a NASA Administrator who is aware of actually ZERO about rockets & spacecraft undermines the American house program and endangers our astronauts https://t.co/DQVhRgj3A4October 22, 2025
Musk thinks it is a dangerous concept: He replied with the “100” emoji to a submit by AstroForge CEO and founder Matt Gialich that reads, “Nobody needs this to occur. This might mark the start of the top for our nation’s dominance in house.”
And, in a post this morning (Oct. 22), Musk took the battle on to Duffy but once more: “Having a NASA Administrator who is aware of actually ZERO about rockets & spacecraft undermines the American house program and endangers our astronauts.”
The plain however unsaid level of comparability is Isaacman, who funded, organized and commanded two non-public missions to Earth orbit, utilizing SpaceX rockets and capsules. (Musk did distance himself from this comparability in another X post today, nonetheless, saying, “At this level, I’m not advocating any explicit candidate for NASA Administrator. I’m simply determined for somebody with a 3 digit IQ.”)
Will Trump re-up Isaacman’s nomination? Will Duffy get to take the “performing” modifier off his NASA job title? And the way will Musk reply to any of those eventualities? Keep tuned; there could possibly be rather more drama forward.
Editor’s notice: This story was up to date at 3:28 p.m. ET on Oct. 22 to incorporate a brand new X submit from Musk, which reads, partly, “I’m simply determined for somebody with a 3 digit IQ.”
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