In a surprising move, former President Donald Trump has reached out to Elon Musk by nominating a close associate of Musk’s to head NASA, following a previous falling out between the two. The nomination of Jared Isaacman was announced by Trump on Truth Social late Tuesday.

Isaacman, a longtime supporter of Musk, was initially chosen by Trump for the NASA Administrator position last December. However, the offer was abruptly withdrawn on May 31, just a day after Musk stepped down from his government role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency.

In the interim, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been filling the role. This follows Musk’s dramatic departure, during which he publicly criticized Duffy’s suitability for the NASA leadership position.

“The leader of America’s space program needs more than a two-digit IQ,” Musk pointedly remarked on X in October, expressing his dissatisfaction with Duffy’s appointment.

In another post, Musk didn’t hold back, claiming, “Sean Dummy is trying to kill NASA!”

‘Sean Dummy is trying to kill NASA!’ Musk wrote in another post. 

Trump disagreed in his post on Tuesday, praising Duffy for doing ‘an incredible job’ as interim chief while the search was underway.

‘This evening, I am pleased to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of NASA,’ Trump wrote. 

Isaacman is a tech entrepreneur himself who piloted SpaceX’s first civilian crewed space mission

Trump unveiled Jared Isaacman as his nominee for Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on Truth Social on Tuesday night

‘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.’

He offered congratulations to Isaacman, as well as his wife Monica and children, Mila and Liv.

Duffy had reportedly hoped he would keep the NASA job on a permanent basis.

The transportation secretary had allegedly even floated rolling NASA under the department’s purview. 

Trump initially backed Isaacman for the position but announced in late May that he had decided to withdraw Isaacman after a ‘thorough review’ of his ‘prior associations.’ 

Weeks after the withdrawal, Trump went further in expressing his concerns about Isaacman’s Republican credentials.

At the time, Trump acknowledged that he thought Isaacman ‘was very good,’ but had become ‘surprised to learn’ that Isaacman was a ‘ blue blooded Democrat, who had never contributed to a Republican before.’

Isaacman is a tech entrepreneur himself who piloted SpaceX’s first civilian crewed space mission.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been serving in the role on an interim basis, after Musk sensationally insisted he was not smart enough for the agency’s top job

Isaacman has been a longstanding ally of Musk and was Trump’s pick for the role back in December, but the offer was rescinded suddenly on May 31, just one day after Musk left his government role heading up the Department of Government Efficiency

He personally thanked the president for his nomination on Musk-owned social media platform X.

‘It will be an honor to serve my country under your leadership,’ he wrote. ‘I am also very grateful to @SecDuffy, who skillfully oversees @NASA alongside his many other responsibilities.’

Isaacman celebrated the support he had received ‘from the space-loving community’, noting it ‘has been overwhelming. 

‘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.’

Speaking directly to that community who will now serve under him, Isaacman wrote:  ‘To the innovators building the orbital economy, to the scientists pursuing breakthrough discoveries and to dreamers across the world eager for a return to the Moon and the grand journey beyond – these are the most exciting times since the dawn of the space age – and I truly believe the future we have all been waiting for will soon become reality. 

‘And to the best and brightest at NASA, and to all the commercial and international partners, we have an extraordinary responsibility – but the clock is running. 

‘The journey is never easy, but it is time to inspire the world once again to achieve the near-impossible – to undertake and accomplish big, bold endeavors in space…and when we do, we will make life better here at home and challenge the next generation to go even further.’

Isaacman celebrated the support he had received ‘from the space-loving community’, noting it ‘has been overwhelming’

‘NASA will never be a caretaker of history – but will forever make history. Godspeed, President Donald J. Trump, and Godspeed NASA, as America leads the greatest adventure in human history.’

Musk celebrated the news by sharing both Trump and Isaacman’s separate statements confirming the nomination.

Trump’s decision to reinstate his original appointment comes after relations began thawing between he and his former first buddy.

Last week, Trump told reporters he and Musk have spoken ‘on and off’ since sitting together at conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s funeral last month in Arizona and that their relationship is ‘good.’