Elon Musk has launched a scathing critique against acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, criticizing his intellectual capabilities for the role. Musk candidly expressed his views on social media, stating that “the person responsible for America’s space program can’t have a two-digit IQ.” This remark was part of a response to a post advocating for new leadership at NASA.

Currently serving as both NASA’s interim chief and the transportation secretary, Duffy finds himself at the center of a contentious debate within the MAGA community about who should permanently assume the NASA administrator role. According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, Duffy is determined to retain his position, and there are even discussions about potentially integrating NASA under the transportation department’s jurisdiction.

In a series of posts on X, Musk further criticized Duffy, accusing him of trying to undermine NASA’s operations. His comment, “Sean Dummy is trying to kill NASA!” underscores the intense discord surrounding the leadership of America’s space agency. As this clash unfolds, the future of NASA’s administration remains uncertain, with Musk’s influential voice adding fuel to the ongoing debate.

However, that puts him at odds with the Tesla and SpaceX founder, who is vying for his friend Jared Isaacman (Pictured) to get the job despite Trump withdrawing his nomination for Isaacman earlier this year. Isaacman, a tech entrepreneur himself who piloted SpaceX’s first civilian crewed space mission, was considered for NASA’s top job earlier this year. But after Trump and Musk feuded over the summer over the Jeffrey Epstein files, the administration withdrew its consideration of Isaacman.

The friend of Musk was first nominated to lead NASA in December 2024. Now, Isaacman is attempting to get back in Trump’s orbit, and he has hired lobbyists and social media influencers to help him, the Journal reports. Isaacman, meanwhile, denies that he has any ‘paid lobbyists or advocates’ working on his behalf. ‘Jared Isaacman for NASA Administrator!’ far-right influencer Laura Loomer posted on Tuesday afternoon. 

Still, Isaacman and his team huddled over the weekend to assess his nomination. Adding to the urgency, some of Isaacman’s allies expected a decision on the top NASA job could come this week. The conversations directly between Duffy and Isaacman about renominating the tech entrepreneur were ‘contentious at times,’ the Journal reported.

Musk swung again at Duffy in another Tuesday post, noting how NASA won’t get to the moon faster than SpaceX. It has been reported that Isaacman’s past support for Democratic politicians played a factor in his nomination being pulled earlier this year.

Duffy’s acting role atop the agency concludes at the end of the year. The White House has said that any announcement about who will lead NASA will come directly from the president, though they did not give an update as to when that will happen.