Recently appointed NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on Friday told CNBC that the U.S. will return to the moon within President Donald Trump’s second term.
Isaacman, a close ally of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, told CNBC’s “Closing Bell Overtime” that Trump’s recommitment to exploring the moon is key to unlocking the “orbital economy.”
“We want to have that opportunity to explore and realize the scientific, economic and national security potential on the moon,” he said.
Isaacman’s comments on Friday were some of his first public remarks since being confirmed to his position by the Senate last week, after a long saga throughout 2025.
Trump initially nominated Isaacman for the NASA head role in December 2024, but the president abruptly pulled his pick in May due to Isaacman’s “prior associations.” Although Trump did not specify what those were, some have suggested that it was related to Isaacman’s close ties with Musk, with whom Trump had a heated feud over the summer.
