Bezos Sought Trump Help for Blue Origin in July 2025 as Musk’s SpaceX Tightened Grip

3 articles · Updated · WIRED · Jun 18

A new book says Jeff Bezos asked Donald Trump in July 2025 to back “contractor diversity” in U.S. space awards, an effort meant to help Blue Origin challenge SpaceX that ultimately failed.
The pitch framed SpaceX’s dominance of launch infrastructure, including Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral, as a national security risk and urged Trump to have Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg steer officials toward multiple contractors.
That request followed months of outreach after Trump’s 2024 election, including a December 2024 Mar-a-Lago dinner where Bezos criticized The Washington Post and sought common ground with the incoming president.
The book also says Mark Zuckerberg sent Trump flattering texts, including a child’s letter invoking a “golden age of America,” while Trump later mocked both men to guests as they tried to win his favor.
Blue Origin got no apparent benefit: Trump later reconciled with Elon Musk, who resumed backing Republicans, and the administration expanded access for SpaceX’s Starship operations.

Sources

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