Trump’s Missile Defense Plan Faces Changes After Musk Dispute
The future of Elon Musk’s company SpaceX in the US missile defense project known as “Golden Dome” is now uncertain. This comes after a public fallout between Musk and former President Donald Trump, according to sources familiar with the plan.
The White House had earlier planned to involve SpaceX, along with tech firms Palantir and Anduril, to build parts of the system using satellite technology. However, a new version of the plan may focus more on ground-based defense systems, reducing SpaceX’s role.
Project Delays, Confusion, and Political Influence
The defense system, which Trump said should be ready by January 2029, is facing delays and confusion. Experts have said the projected cost of $175 billion and the timeline are unrealistic. Some involved in the project said there’s no clear vision and many companies are scrambling to be part of it.
Critics also raised concern that decisions on who gets involved are based more on political ties than on expertise. All three companies considered for the project — SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril — were founded by Trump supporters.
Musk vs. Trump: Fallout Hits Business Ties
Elon Musk had been a close adviser to Trump and donated large sums to support him. But their recent falling out—which included Musk calling for Trump’s impeachment—led to the White House rethinking SpaceX’s involvement.
Musk has since walked back his comments and deleted some posts. The White House said it welcomed his apology and had not made any final decisions on future contracts.
What Golden Dome Aims to Do
The Golden Dome system is designed to track and stop missile attacks against the United States. SpaceX had proposed building a “custody layer” — a large network of satellites to detect and follow missile paths.
Trump called a missile attack “the most catastrophic threat facing the United States” in a January executive order. He asked for a full plan and system layout by the end of March, but that deadline has passed without a clear outcome.
