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Isaacman Declines to Say Whether Elon Musk Was at Mar‑a‑Lago When Trump Offered NASA Role

Jared Isaacman refused to say whether Elon Musk was present when President Trump offered him the NASA administrator post, telling senators his initial meeting with the president occurred in a ballroom‑style setting with many people moving through. Sen. Ed Markey pressed the nominee over ties to Musk and potential conflicts given SpaceX’s large role in NASA contracts. Isaacman says he holds no equity in aerospace firms and has disclosed relevant financial ties; his nomination was previously withdrawn in May after a White House review.

11:49 AM, 12/04/2025Politics
Isaacman Declines to Say Whether Elon Musk Was at Mar‑a‑Lago When Trump Offered NASA Role

Jared Isaacman, President Trump’s nominee to lead NASA, declined to say Wednesday whether Elon Musk was present when the president first offered him the post at Mar‑a‑Lago. Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur renominated after an earlier withdrawal, faced probing questions during a second confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

Sen. Ed Markey (D‑Mass.) pressed Isaacman on the specific question of Musk’s presence, saying he was not satisfied with the nominee’s response at an earlier hearing.

"So I wanted to give you one more chance to set the record straight. Was Elon Musk in the meeting at Mar‑a‑Lago when President Trump offered you the job?" Markey asked.

Isaacman did not provide a direct yes or no. He emphasized that his initial conversation with the president took place in a ballroom‑style setting with “dozens of people moving in and out,” and said his interactions were with the president rather than with other attendees.

"My first interview with the president — I think I’ve had several opportunities since to reengage — was in a ballroom‑type setting, senator. There were dozens of people moving in and out that I would not say were in the meeting," Isaacman said.

Markey said the refusal to answer left him to infer that Musk had been present, and that Musk’s attendance would represent a potential conflict of interest given his prominent business ties to NASA.

The senator pointed to Isaacman’s relationship with Musk and to SpaceX’s significant work with the agency — contracts and programs that have amounted to roughly $15 billion in federal awards in recent years. Isaacman noted he has no direct or indirect equity in any aerospace company, including SpaceX, and that he has disclosed his financial ties to ethics officials.

Background and next steps

Trump first tapped Isaacman in December. The nomination was withdrawn in May days before the Senate was expected to act, after the White House cited a "thorough review of prior associations." The withdrawal prompted speculation about whether disagreements involving Musk or Isaacman’s past political donations contributed to the reversal.

Isaacman has funded and led private missions that used SpaceX vehicles, and Musk had publicly advocated for his confirmation. The nominee’s answers under oath will be part of the record as the committee and the full Senate consider his fitness to lead NASA.

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Isaacman Declines to Say Whether Elon Musk Was at Mar‑a‑Lago When Trump Offered NASA Role - CRBC News