Trump Praises Musk's Starlink Rollout, Rocket Recovery: 'Nobody Else Can Do It'

In a recent interview with Fox News' "Hannity," President Donald Trump heaped praise on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, highlighting the company's rapid deployment of Starlink satellite internet during natural disasters and its innovative reusable rocket technology. Trump's admiration for Musk and SpaceX has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, given the company's lucrative contracts with NASA and the Pentagon.

Trump recounted how SpaceX's Starlink system proved crucial during Hurricane Helene's aftermath in North Carolina, when local officials requested his help in securing Starlink access. Musk deployed "thousands of units of this communication," which saved many lives. The Federal Communications Commission had granted SpaceX and T-Mobile emergency approval to deploy Starlink's direct-to-cell technology, enabling basic texting capabilities across T-Mobile's network in affected areas. The system also broadcasts emergency alerts across all cellular networks in the region.

Trump expressed particular admiration for SpaceX's rocket recovery system, which achieved a notable milestone in October 2024 by successfully catching its Super Heavy booster using mechanical arms. "When I saw the rocket ship come back and get grabbed like you grab a beautiful little baby... nobody else can do it," Trump stated, emphasizing that competitors in Russia, China, and even the U.S. government lack similar capabilities. Trump also praised Musk's business acumen and the innovative culture at SpaceX, noting the company's "brilliant young people" and their role in technological advancement.

Trump's decision to travel to Musk's home turf was the latest sign of the burgeoning bond between the billionaire duo, which has raised questions over possible conflicts of interests given SpaceX's lucrative contracts with NASA and the Pentagon. Watch more: Spectacular landing: SpaceX catches giant Starship booster with mechanical arms

Flying in from his Mar-a-Lago home, Trump greeted Musk warmly on Tuesday afternoon, sporting a red MAGA hat as the pair headed off to watch from the control tower of the company's Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, where Starship blasted off at 4:00 pm (2200 GMT). Tuesday's launch marked the quickest turnaround between test flights for the world's most powerful rocket, a gleaming, 400-foot-tall (121-meter) stainless steel colossus central to Musk's ambition of colonizing Mars and making humanity a multiplanetary species. Musk aims to launch the first uncrewed missions to the Red Planet as early as 2026, coinciding with the next "Mars transfer window" -- a period when the journey between Earth and Mars is at its shortest. NASA is also counting on a specialised version of Starship to ferry astronauts to the lunar surface later this decade under its Artemis program.

In conclusion, President Donald Trump's praise for Elon Musk and SpaceX highlights the company's competitive advantage in the global space sector, particularly in the rapid deployment of Starlink satellite internet during natural disasters and its innovative reusable rocket technology. As SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of spaceflight, its success could have significant implications for the broader space industry and humanity's future in space.