During Trump's presidency, some of his aides reportedly floated the idea of canceling certain government contracts with SpaceX—likely due to tensions between the president and Elon Musk. But after reviewing the deals, they realized most were too critical to scrap, especially those supporting national security and space missions. The spat highlights how personal clashes at the top can ripple into billion-dollar decisions.

Editor’s Note: Even in high-stakes industries like aerospace, politics and personalities can shake things up. SpaceX’s work with the U.S. government is so entrenched that cutting ties isn’t simple—even if the boss has a grudge. It’s a reminder that when public and private sectors mix, drama doesn’t always trump practicality.