Exclusive: Trump's Golden Dome looks for alternatives to Musk's SpaceX

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

July 22, 2025 2:00 PM EDT Updated 4 hours ago


WASHINGTON, July 22 (Reuters) - The Trump administration is expanding its search for partners to build the Golden Dome missile defense system, courting Amazon.com's Project Kuiper and big defense contractors as tensions with Elon Musk threaten SpaceX's dominance in the program, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

The shift marks a strategic pivot away from reliance on Musk's SpaceX, whose Starlink and Starshield satellite networks have become central to U.S. military communications. It comes amid a deteriorating relationship between Trump and Musk, which culminated in a public falling-out on June 5. Even before the spat, officials at the Pentagon and White House had begun exploring alternatives to SpaceX, wary of over-reliance on a single partner for huge portions of the ambitious, $175 billion space-based defense shield, two of the sources said.

SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment. Responding to a post about the Reuters story on X, Musk wrote, "Federal acquisition regulations require using the best provider at the best price. Anything else would be breaking the law."

Due to its size, track record of launching more than 9,000 of its own Starlink satellites, and experience in government procurement, SpaceX still has the inside track to assist with major portions of the Golden Dome, especially launch contracts, sources say. Project Kuiper, which has launched just 78 of a planned constellation of 3,000 low-earth orbit satellites, has been approached by the Pentagon to join the effort, signaling the administration's openness to integrating commercial tech firms into national defense infrastructure and going beyond traditional defense players.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/trumps-golden-dome-looks-alternatives-musks-spacex-2025-07-22/

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Responding to a post about the Reuters story on X, Musk wrote, "Federal acquisition regulations require using the best provider at the best price. Anything else would be breaking the law."

This from someone who directed others to break MULTIPLE laws.

[efhmc]

1. Please take it away from the coast of Texas.

[Karasu]

2. I had almost forgotten about this shit. What other billionaires out there want to blow their wad on this stupid

venture that probably won't fucking work anyway given the competence of everyone involved?

[JT45242]

3. Which billionaire will negotiate the proper kickback of stays at trump facilities...

For a project that has zero chance of working. The area of the US is too vast, the coastlines and orders are too long.

It only works reliably for small land masses like Israel.

The cost and logistics for the US make this a fools errand but a great way to make the rich richer with more corporate welfare.

[usonian]

4. Trump already has a golden dome.

Hidden by camouflage.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/712641/Donald-Trump-aged-10-years-time-old-US-presidential-candidate

[twodogsbarking]

5. I swear our lives have been turned into a National Lampoon movie. A bad one though.

[Polybius]

6. Biden couldn't stand Musk, but he worked with him on SpaceX for the best of the country

Stop being a baby, Trump. SpaceX is needed.

[DBoon]

7. Maybe Trump could buy the rockets from Russia

[Javaman]

8. in other news: trump thinks the dome part is not descriptive enough

pushing for the word "showers" to highlight the many missiles it would employ....

I'll see myself out.

[Mustellus]

9. An orbital interceptor....

.. has to be everywhere in order to be over the one small patch on earth that the bad guys are launching from....

That means a huge number of interceptors in orbit. You gotta cover Siri Lanka in order to cover Siberia.

The bad guys can overwhelm it locally by launching a large number of ICBM's at once from one place.

And it all has to be automatic. No preparing a briefing for the Senior Decision Maker. The system is either On or Off. If its On, it has permission to shoot. If its Off, its off.

[Torchlight]

10. Musk and trump's little quarrel cost the nation millions of dollars, time, recources

and planning. But sure republics... keep telling yourselves these two creeps are necessary and great for business.