The November 19 SpaceX Starship launch in Brownsville, Texas, was meant to showcase cutting-edge technology, but the event turned into a spectacle of awkwardness when President-elect Donald Trump made a series of offbeat remarks to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. The interaction, captured by 17-year-old Kai Trump, revealed just how far removed Trump is from the complexities of space exploration.
The Setup: Starship Launch Goes Off Script
SpaceX had high hopes for the sixth test flight of its Starship rocket, aiming to catch the rocket’s Super Heavy booster using the facility’s innovative “chopstick” arms. However, just four minutes into the launch, the mission director called off the catch due to concerns about the launch tower, redirecting the booster to splash down in the Indian Ocean.
While this outcome is a natural part of SpaceX’s iterative process, Donald Trump seemed less prepared for the realities of spaceflight. As Musk explained the situation, Trump’s commentary revealed a lack of grasp about the intricacies of reusable rocket technology.
“Can They Use That Again?”
Kai Trump’s vlog captured the moment Musk informed Trump about the booster’s fate. Musk explained, “We had some concerns about the tower, so it was commanded to land out at sea.” Trump, standing next to Texas Senator Ted Cruz, replied with his trademark enthusiasm: “Amazing, amazing.”
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But then, Trump asked, “Can they use that again? Can they get it from the sea?” The question prompted a noticeable pause from Musk, whose initial smirk turned into a diplomatic but slightly condescending response: “It’s going to be… probably blow up, it’s probably going to blow up, that’s my guess. We have better versions which are in production in those factories over there.”
The room seemed to collectively cringe as Trump pressed the point, seemingly unaware of the logistical and engineering challenges involved in salvaging and reusing a rocket that had splashed down in the ocean.
Watching a Rocket Launch at SpaceX with Elon Musk! pic.twitter.com/9YvhWALM4P
— Kai Trump (@kaitrump) November 26, 2024
A Moment of Visible Frustration from Musk
Musk’s reaction to Trump’s questions quickly became a talking point online. His slight smirk and the pause before answering were telling. Viewers speculated whether Musk was calculating how to phrase his response diplomatically or just masking his exasperation. Either way, his answer underscored a clear gap between Trump’s understanding of SpaceX’s technology and the realities of rocket science.
A Case Study in Awkwardness
The exchange highlights a dynamic that has followed Trump throughout his career: his tendency to over-simplify complex issues. Musk, a visionary known for his precision, appeared visibly uncomfortable navigating Trump’s off-the-cuff remarks. The contrast between Musk’s technical expertise and Trump’s superficial commentary was on full display, leaving many wondering why the president-elect seemed so unprepared.
What This Means for SpaceX—and Trump
While the failed booster catch was just another step in SpaceX’s development process, Trump’s questions brought unintended attention to the event. Musk later reassured audiences that the company had contingency plans and that even failed tests provide valuable data. However, the exchange with Trump overshadowed the technical achievements of the day, highlighting the risks of injecting politics into scientific endeavors.
For Musk, the moment served as a reminder of the tightrope he walks in engaging with political figures. For Trump, it was a stark demonstration of how his approach to complex issues—whether space exploration or otherwise—can backfire, leaving audiences cringing.
Kai Trump’s vlog might have been intended to document a historic launch, but it instead immortalized one of the most awkward exchanges in recent memory—a moment where Trump’s characteristic bravado clashed with Musk’s scientific precision, leaving viewers questioning whether the president-elect truly understood what he was watching.
