President Trump announced Tuesday that he will re-nominate Jared Isaacman to lead NASA, months after he pulled the billionaire entrepreneur’s nomination over his “prior associations.”
“This evening, I am pleased to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of NASA,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
“Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era,” the president added. “Congratulations to Jared, his wife Monica, and their children, Mila and Liv.”
Trump also praised Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for the “incredible job” he’s done as interim administrator of NASA.
In late May, the president abruptly yanked Isaacman’s nomination to lead the space agency.
The surprise move — just days before Isaacman’s Senate confirmation hearing — came in response to a “review” of Isaacman’s history, Trump said.
“After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA,” Trump wrote in a May 31 Truth Social post.
Isaacman has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates and causes as recently as October 2024, when he gave more than $41,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Federal Election Commission records show.
He also contributed $100,000 in 2021 to a political action committee linked to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Trump had reportedly met with Isaacman multiple times in recent months to discuss another nomination to lead NASA.
Isaacman, who has been to space twice on treks that he funded, has widely been seen as a close ally of fellow billionaire Elon Musk.
Isaacman was part of Musk-owned spaceflight company SpaceX’s 2024 Polaris Dawn crew that conducted the first private spacewalk.
Several White House insiders attribute the pulling of Isaacman’s nomination — which was suggested to the president by director of presidential personnel Sergio Gor — for helping trigger Musk’s public falling-out with Trump, The Post previously reported.
Isaacman thanked Trump for the second chance in a post on X.
“It will be an honor to serve my country under your leadership,” Isaacman wrote in a post directed at Trump.
“The support from the space-loving community has been overwhelming,” he added. “I am not sure how I earned the trust of so many, but I will do everything I can to live up to those expectations.
Isaacman declared that it is time for NASA “to inspire the world once again to achieve the near-impossible — to undertake and accomplish big, bold endeavors in space.”
“NASA will never be a caretaker of history — but will forever make history,” he pledged.
