The Ironic Grounding of Jared Isaacman
Trump is reportedly pulling the nomination to lead NASA after discovering the space enthusiast had donated to Democrats – just as he had in the past.
Jared Isaacman says he hasn’t taken his last flight into space despite losing his bid to become the next administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
President Donald Trump is withdrawing Isaacman’s nomination to head the space agency after learning the billionaire space enthusiast had previously donated to Democrats and describes himself as a “hyper-moderate.”
"After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA. I will soon announce a new Nominee who will be Mission aligned, and put America First in Space,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
The extraordinary move comes despite Isaacman, the CEO of payment service Shift4, having already received approval from the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, with a full Senate vote scheduled for next week.
Unlike many of Trump’s nominees who are confirmed along party lines, Isaacman’s nomination represented a rare instance of bipartisanship. The 42-year-old billionaire has flown on two private SpaceX missions and became the first non-government astronaut to perform a spacewalk. He strongly supports NASA’s mission and shares Elon Musk’s vision of colonizing Mars.
NASA staff viewed Isaacman’s nomination with optimism, believing his confirmation would bring much-needed clarity to the space agency, which has grown increasingly fractured and aimless in its mission. While the Trump administration remains committed to shrinking the federal government and reducing expenditures, Isaacman opposed cutting NASA’s budget by more than half.
Trump’s decision reportedly comes down to ideology. He demands absolute loyalty and has routinely rejected nominees who don’t fully align with his agenda or the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement. Dissent and contrarian views are not welcome in Trump’s White House.
If Trump is withdrawing Isaacman’s nomination over past political donations, the move would be profoundly hypocritical. Public records show that throughout his business career, Trump donated to both Democrats and Republicans at every level of government.
In Fire and Fury, Michael Wolff recounts a 2015 meeting at Trump Tower between Trump and conservative strategist Steve Bannon, in which Bannon confronts Trump about his history of bipartisan donations. Trump explained that, as a real estate developer, he had to donate to Democrats because they controlled the cities where he did business.
Trump's political evolution went even further. He was once pro-choice and cultivated close ties with liberal elites in New York, Washington, and Hollywood. He was not driven by ideology but by access to influence and recognition. When Bannon challenged him on his past associations, Trump reportedly replied, “I can get around that.”
Trump is hardly alone in changing political affiliations. Ronald Reagan was a lifelong Democrat before switching to the Republican Party. South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond, who had once been a Democrat, became a conservative Republican. Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist switched from Republican to Democrat, as did Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter. Michael Bloomberg shifted from Democrat to Republican, then to independent, and back to Democrat.
Presidents routinely appoint members of the opposing party to build coalitions and bring in needed expertise. Robert Gates, a Republican, served as Secretary of Defense under Barack Obama. Norman Mineta, a Democrat, served as Secretary of Transportation under George W. Bush. William Cohen, a Republican, served as the Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton. James Comey, a Republican who Trump later fired, served as FBI Director under Obama.
Effective administrations often benefit from honest feedback and divergent perspectives. Presidents need advisors willing to challenge assumptions and offer alternative solutions. Ultimately, though, senior officials are expected to align with the president’s agenda or step aside.
In his second term, Trump has increasingly demanded absolute loyalty from appointees. One unlikely defender of Isaacman’s nomination has emerged: conservative activist Laura Loomer. Loomer, who has Trump’s ear, has been conducting “extreme vetting” of appointees and advising Trump on which candidates lack sufficient loyalty. Many flagged by Loomer have been removed from government.
However, in Isaacman’s case, Loomer has publicly supported his nomination, arguing that, like Musk, Isaacman has shifted politically from his earlier liberal leanings. She claims opposition to Isaacman’s nomination stems from the so-called “deep state” seeking to prevent capable people from serving under Trump.
The reality is simpler: Trump resists surrounding himself with anyone who might challenge his decisions or views. On paper, Isaacman appears not only qualified to lead NASA but also enthusiastic about doing so. Yet, in Trump’s world, that ambition is rarely rewarded, which is why Isaacman likely will not reach the administrator’s desk.
What changed, between his confirmation, and yesterday? Having observed how Trump works, whenever a high profile subordinate leaves (with the exception of Sarah Sanders) they get trashed. It's the same way the Boston Red Sox deal with the managers they fire. Someone told the NY Times the day before Elon was to give another joint press conference from the Oval Office (this time without the snot nosed spawn--he was banned forever) *someone* leaked about White Musk on Dope. Given the immediate revelation that Musk was banging Stephen Miller's wife and she was joining him, post-DOGE (true or not, that's the story that got out IMMEDIATELY after the one about the drugs), I believe Elon suspects it was the Jewish Josef Goebbels that did the leaking. Loyal capo gets heat for doing the boss's bidding, and the boss has an obligation to do right by the capo. Ergo, Elon's buddy gets the axe.