Laura Loomer has voiced her disapproval of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for not supporting a candidate favored by Elon Musk to lead NASA, marking a new rift within the MAGA faction.

The 32-year-old Trump supporter has been actively advocating for Jared Isaacman to be appointed as the head of NASA. Isaacman’s candidacy was previously sidelined amid tensions between Musk and Trump.

Duffy is currently serving as the acting administrator and has expressed interest in maintaining his role, even suggesting that the space agency could be realigned under the Department of Transportation, according to reports from Politico.

Isaacman’s proponents, including Montana Senator Tim Sheehy and Texas Senator Ted Cruz, are campaigning to reinstate the billionaire entrepreneur, who is also a pilot and commercial astronaut, into consideration for the position.

Loomer has criticized Duffy, particularly after Musk dubbed him ‘Sean Dummy’ for his reluctance to appoint Isaacman. She argues that without Isaacman’s leadership, the U.S. risks falling behind China in the space race.

“This is what happens when you appoint a reality TV star to lead the Department of Transportation,” Loomer remarked, expressing her dissatisfaction.

Duffy initially rose to fame during the 1990s as a star on the Boston season of MTV’s The Real World, before launching a political career that led him to a decade-long stint in Congress.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Department of Transportation for comment. 

Laura Loomer (pictured) criticized Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy over his refusal to confirm an Elon Musk ally as head of NASA in the newest split within the MAGA movement

Loomer expressed her frustration with Duffy (pictured) – who Musk referred to recently as ‘Sean Dummy’ over refusal to nominate his friend – and believes that without him the US will ‘lose the space race to China’

NASA confirmed that Duffy has suggested making NASA administrator a part of the Department of Transportation but not with him running it. 

‘Sean said that NASA might benefit from being part of the Cabinet, maybe even within the Department of Transportation, but he’s never said he wants to keep the job himself,’ a spokesperson said.

The White House has only said that ‘discussions about who will take the job are ongoing, and the president has yet to make a decision.’

Isaacman, 42, had his nomination pulled in June after a ‘thorough review’ of his ‘prior associations,’ Trump said. 

He had been a close collaborator with Musk ever since buying his first chartered flight on Musk’s SpaceX company in 2021.

It was been heavily speculated that Sergio Gor, an official in the White House Presidential Personnel Office, pushed Isaacman out the door over disputes with Musk and failure to consult him and other personnel officials on some decisions.

Speaking to the All-In Podcast following his exit, Isaacman said that he still supports President Trump but suggests the speculation is correct. 

‘I mean, people can draw their own conclusions but I think the directions people are going in seems to check out to me,’ Isaacman said.

The 32-year-old Donald Trump ally has been pushing for Jared Isaacman (pictured) to be nominated for NASA administrator

Isaacman had been a close collaborator with Musk ever since buying his first chartered flight on Musk’s SpaceX company in 2021

He even suggested that it wasn’t personal between him and Trump, saying ‘one person decided to make a move’ to oust him. 

Isaacman also believes the nomination was withdrawn to coincide with his friend Musk parting ways with the administration. 

‘I had a pretty good idea, I don’t think the timing was much of a coincidence. Obviously, there was more than one departure that was covered on that day,’ he said.

Isaacman blamed ‘some people’ with ‘axes to grind’ against either him or Musk, saying he was a ‘good, visible target.’ 

He described someone, presumably Gor, as ‘an influential advisor coming in and saying: ‘Here’s the facts and I think we gotta’ kill this guy.” 

‘I want to be overwhelmingly clear: I don’t fault the president,’ Isaacman added.

The president maintains he backflipped on billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman’s appointment after learning of his past donations to the Democrats.

But MAGA loyalists suspect Trump may have been set up to make the call by insiders who have it out for Elon Musk and are looking to hurt him by punishing his friend.

Loomer questioned whether Isaacman was being retaliated against for his friendship with Musk when Trump pulled 

Loomer wrote at the time: ‘There is reason to believe that Isaacman may be facing retaliation because of his friendship with Elon Musk. 

‘If so, this would suggest there is a coordinated hit job on Isaacman in an effort to damage ties between President Trump and Elon Musk before the 2026 midterms.

‘Is President Trump aware of the ulterior motives by some individuals in the administration who have an interest in seeing Isaacman’s nomination pulled?’

The New York Times reported that Trump reportedly knew about Isaacman’s donations from the moment he chose to nominate him to run NASA.

Isaacman told All-In that he disclosed over the years he had donated to prominent Democrats, including in the past two campaign cycles. 

Musk has also donated to Democrats in the past, before going on to become the single largest benefactor to the MAGA movement during the last campaign in his push to see Trump return to the White House.

Isaacman was selected by Trump at the height of his bromance with Musk, who has a long and storied connection with the fellow billionaire.

It is understood that Musk lobbied for Isaacman’s appointment and that Trump deferred to the SpaceX founder for the final decision.

At the time, Trump described Isaacman as ‘an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot and astronaut.’

He had been approved by a Senate committee and was headed to a confirmation vote this week when Trump suddenly pulled his nomination. The president gave Musk a heads up on Friday – his last day at the White House – that he intended to do so. 

It is understood that some of Trump’s allies had been pressing him about Isaacman’s donations to the Democrats in recent days, prompting Trump to renege on his offer.

Loomer said despite his liberal ties, Isaacman was an ideal candidate to lead NASA, with ‘unmatched credentials.’ 

‘Isaacman was on track to get over 70 Senate votes. So why the sudden reversal and talks to pull his nomination?’ she asked.

‘Because the Deep State doesn’t want President Trump to have allies like this in his administration.’

White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston pushed back against any suggestion that the decision was not Trump’s.

‘The Administrator of NASA will help lead humanity into space and execute President Trump’s bold mission of planting the American flag on the planet Mars,’ she said.

‘It’s essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump’s America First agenda and a replacement will be announced directly by President Trump soon.’