Jeff Bezos, the founder of Blue Origin, expressed optimism about the future of his space venture under the incoming Trump administration, downplaying any potential impact of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s close ties with President-elect Donald Trump.
In a recent interview, Bezos stated that he trusts Musk’s intentions to focus on the public interest rather than using his relationship with the new administration to undermine Blue Origin.
Bezos, who spoke to Reuters in Cape Canaveral, Florida, ahead of the debut launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, emphasized his confidence in Musk’s sincerity, stating:
“Elon has been very clear that he’s doing this for the public interest and not for his personal gain. And I take him at face value.”
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, a 30-story-tall vehicle expected to compete directly with SpaceX’s market dominance, marks the company’s long-awaited entry into the satellite launch business.
While Musk has garnered attention for his political connections, particularly his financial backing of Trump’s campaign and his influence on the President-elect’s space agenda, Bezos remains optimistic about the future of the space sector under Trump. Although Bezos has not yet discussed space policy with Trump, he expressed his belief that the space industry can thrive under the new administration, noting that Trump’s plans for space exploration, including potential changes to NASA’s lunar program, will have room for growth and innovation.
Regarding the debate over whether the US should prioritize missions to Mars or the Moon, Bezos shared his stance:
“What we shouldn’t do is start and stop things. We should continue with the lunar program for sure,” he said.
He further clarified that, in his view, both lunar and Mars exploration should be pursued in parallel, rather than focusing on one over the other.
As Blue Origin prepares for the launch of New Glenn, a mission that aims to challenge SpaceX’s dominance in the commercial space industry, Bezos reflected on the competitive landscape. He believes the space industry has room for multiple successful companies, saying:
“SpaceX is going to be very successful. They’re going to continue to be very successful. Blue Origin is going to be successful. And there’s some company that hasn’t even been founded yet… they’re going to be successful too.”
