Trump Administration Seeks New Partners for "Golden Dome" Project Amid Tensions with Elon Musk and SpaceX

Sources informed Reuters on Tuesday, July 22, that the administration of US President Donald Trump has begun expanding the search for new partners to contribute to the construction of the missile defense system known as the "Golden Dome". This comes amidst increasing disputes between Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, jeopardizing SpaceX's dominance over the project.

According to sources, the administration is looking to collaborate with Amazon's "Project Kuiper" and major defense companies as part of a strategy to reduce reliance on SpaceX. This shift comes after SpaceX's satellite networks, Starlink and Starshield, became crucial to US military communications.

Two sources explained that tensions between Trump and Musk, escalating into a public dispute last month, prompted Pentagon and White House officials to seek alternatives to SpaceX to avoid over-reliance on it as the sole partner in a defense project costing up to $175 billion.

In response, Musk tweeted on X platform: "Federal acquisition regulations require the selection of the best provider at the best price. Any other option would be a violation of the law."

Nevertheless, sources indicated that SpaceX remains the leading candidate to win significant contracts within the project, especially in the space launch sector, given its extensive experience of launching over 9000 satellites as part of the Starlink network.

On the other hand, the Pentagon is in talks with Amazon's "Project Kuiper", which has launched 78 satellites out of a planned 3000 into low Earth orbit. This move reflects the administration's openness to involve commercial technology companies in defense projects, rather than relying solely on military contractors.

This development coincides with CNBC's report, citing insider sources, of a meeting last week between Trump and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos at the White House, lasting over an hour. The two discussed potential government contracts, including the "Golden Dome" project.