While Duffy reportedly wants keep his job and fold NASA into the Department of Transportation, according to the Wall Street Journal<\/a>, another player has re-entered the power struggle, with some influential MAGA support.<\/p>\n Astronaut, pilot and tech billionaire Jared Isaacman is also vying for the top job at NASA, and is closely linked to Elon Musk. Trump had nominated<\/a> Isaacman for the job last December before withdrawing<\/a> his nomination in June.<\/p>\n Key MAGA figures are now backing Isaacman for another run at the top gig. Conservative broadcaster Benny Johnson shared a 10-minute video<\/a> flying with Isaacman in a fighter jet over Montana.<\/p>\n The video, posted on Sunday, sees Johnson endorsing Isaacman to head NASA, pointing out Trump withdrew his nomination over \u201ca little scuffle\u201d with Elon Musk.<\/p>\n He appears to be referring to the start of Musk\u2019s clash with Trump over the \u2018big beautiful bill\u2019, which culminated in the billionaire claiming the president<\/a> was not releasing the Epstein files as he featured in them. He later deleted the X post.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t think of anyone more qualified,\u201d Johnson said of Isaacman, calling him \u201cthe man who could save NASA.\u201d<\/p>\n At the end of the video, Johnson said \u201che felt fully American\u201d flying with Isaacman, \u201ceven though we were flying foreign aircraft.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know who Trump is gonna pick as the NASA administrator,\u201d Johnson stated to his 4 million followers. \u201cBut I do know <\/b>someone like Jared Isaacman just wants America to win and hates Commies, and that\u2019s good enough for me, man.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019ve done the only commercial space walk in history to boot, you\u2019re a literal astronaut, that just makes sense,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll say this, Jared Isaacman for NASA Administrator,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cI trusted the guy with my life and it worked out, I\u2019ll trust him to take us to the moon and Mars and who knows where.\u201d<\/p>\n Right-wing conspiracy theorist and Trump ally Laura Loomer also threw her weight behind Isaacman, branding him \u201can American space icon & a patriot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the most qualified person to be NASA Administrator, & it\u2019s not even up for debate,\u201d Loomer said on X<\/a>. \u201cOur country would be incredibly lucky to have him leading NASA.\u201d<\/p>\n Loomer has supported Isaacman for the role previously on X. In June, before Trump withdrew his nomination for Isaacman, she posted<\/a> \u201cThere is reason to believe that Isaacman may be facing retaliation because of his friendship with Elon Musk.\u201d<\/p>\n After Trump posted his decision, Loomer claimed<\/a>, \u201cIsaacman was set to have his Senate Confirmation hearing this week. The nomination was pulled over Isaacman\u2019s previous donations to Senate Democrats.\u201d<\/p>\n Loomer added of Isaacman<\/a>, \u201cI don\u2019t like his Democrat donations, but it doesn\u2019t erase his qualifications or his resume. And yes, he is a registered Republican.\u201d<\/p>\n In July, Trump slammed Musk in a Truth Social<\/a> post, and while he did not mention Isaacman by name, he wrote \u201cElon asked that one of his close friends run NASA and, while I thought his friend was very good, I was surprised to learn that he was a blue blooded Democrat, who had never contributed to a Republican before.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Musk turned on Duffy, also an ex-lumberjack, last week after the acting administrator said NASA may bypass Musk\u2019s SpaceX and use a different company to land astronauts on the moon.<\/p>\n The Tesla CEO used his platform X to call Duffy \u201cSean Dummy\u201d and said he had a \u201c2 digit IQ\u201d, noting<\/a> \u201cShould someone whose biggest claim to fame is climbing trees be running America\u2019s space program?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The Daily Beast has contacted the Department of Transportation for comment.<\/p>\n![\"U.S.](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/5VBXIQ7AUBBW5NF5YUEMMY2SFI.jpg\")
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy speaks alongside Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN) during a press conference on air traffic controller pay and the government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol on October 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. Eric Lee\/Getty Images <\/p>\n![\"Jared](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/V7DSYJVM45F7HMVST53RXPFZE4.jpg\")
Jared Isaacman, U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to be National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator, testifies during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee confirmation hearing in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on April 09, 2025 in Washington, DC. Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images <\/p>\n![\"US](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/VII5WWQNHJE2LMEHD2GYZVMEGI.jpg\")
US President Donald Trump, with US Congressman Sean Duffy (L), speaks in the Cabinet Room of the White House on January 24, 2019. MANDEL NGAN\/AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n