Politics14:39 · 13m ago

Trump Shifts to Support Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin Amid 2024 Election Dynamics

Calcalist

Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba

Key points

01Trump shifted from criticizing Bezos to supporting Blue Origin's lunar ambitions and government contracts.
02Blue Origin's government contracts increased 177% under Trump compared to Biden's term.
03Blue Origin secured contracts worth billions, including classified Space Force missions and NASA lunar cargo delivery.
04SpaceX leads with $4.6 billion in contracts and 161 launches last year, far surpassing Blue Origin.
05Bezos strengthened ties with Trump amid concerns over Musk's close relationship with the president.
06Trump praised Bezos's decision to block Washington Post's presidential endorsement, signaling improved relations.

In this story

People

OrganizationsAmazon, Blue Origin, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, U.S. Space Force, Pentagon, NASA, SpaceX

PlacesUnited States, Florida, South Pole of the Moon

The story · English

The relationship between former President Donald Trump and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has dramatically transformed. During his first term, Trump frequently insulted Bezos, calling him "Bozo," threatened to break up Amazon, and accused Bezos's Washington Post of waging a campaign against him. However, a recent Wall Street Journal investigation reveals that Trump now actively supports Bezos's space company, Blue Origin, expressing a desire to see it succeed in the U.S. lunar program and secure more government contracts.

According to sources, Trump and Bezos maintain regular communication, including private dinners. Trump has told his advisors he wants Blue Origin to thrive in the Artemis lunar initiative and receive necessary government contracts. Analysis of federal contracts shows Blue Origin's government commitments have surged by an average of 177% compared to the Biden administration period. The company has secured contracts worth billions, including seven classified missions for the U.S. Space Force valued up to $2.4 billion, a $78 million contract to expand launch infrastructure in Florida, a bid for the Pentagon's $151 billion "Golden Shield" project, and a $188 million NASA contract to deliver cargo to the moon's south pole.

Despite this growth, Blue Origin still trails Elon Musk's SpaceX, which has received approximately $4.6 billion in government contracts during Trump's tenure, compared to Blue Origin's $1.1 billion. SpaceX also conducted 161 launches last year, mostly satellite deployments, while Blue Origin completed only 11, mainly suborbital tourist flights. Bezos's camp reportedly shifted its stance due to concerns over Musk's close ties with Trump during the 2024 election, fearing SpaceX could dominate government space contracts. Bezos sought to strengthen his relationship with Trump as a strategic move.

Amazon has also improved ties with Trump, donating $1 million to his inauguration fund, contributing to his new event hall, and paying $40 million for distribution rights to a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump. Bezos himself softened his tone, telling CNBC in May that Trump seemed "less extreme and more charming" after personal talks, acknowledging Trump has "a lot of good ideas."

Meanwhile, Trump's relationship with Musk has soured, with Trump expressing a desire to diversify government space contracts beyond SpaceX, hoping Blue Origin benefits more. Trump also praised Bezos's decision to prevent the Washington Post from endorsing a presidential candidate for the first time in decades, thanking Bezos personally. The White House denied claims of favoritism toward Bezos, stating Trump is committed to working with all American companies and leaders across various sectors. Amazon, Blue Origin, and NASA declined to comment on the report.

Read the original at Calcalist