Donald Trump attends SpaceX Launch in south Texas alongside Elon Musk and granddaughter Kai
Donald Trump has landed at SpaceX headquarters in Boca Chica, Texas, ahead of Elon Musk’s biggest launch to date.
The company launched its largest rocket yet and the president-elect joined his new friend Musk to watch the event take place.
The company conducted its sixth launch of its Starship rocket – the largest ever made.
Takeoff took place around 5:00 PM ET.
Trump and Musk were joined at the launch by Sens. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Ted Cruz of Texas and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee. Trump’s longtime White House physician representative Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, was also in attendance.
The group ‘MAGAvengers’ listened attentively as Musk explained how the 120-meter-long spaceship will get off the ground.
Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. and granddaughter Kai Trump were also spotted on the SpaceX campus.
“I’m going to the Great State of Texas to watch the launch of the largest object ever lifted, not only into space, but simply by lifting it off the ground,” Trump posted ahead of the trip to South Texas social media. .
Newly elected US President Donald Trump looks on during a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, USA, November 19, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump greets Elon Musk as he arrives to attend a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on November 19, 2024 in Brownsville, Texas. SpaceX’s billionaire owner Elon Musk, a Trump confidante, has been tapped to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency alongside former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy
Donald Trump and Elon Musk walk into SpaceX’s headquarters in south Texas on Wednesday
Donald Trump and Elon Musk at SpaceX headquarters in South Texas on Wednesday. Several lawmakers can also be seen flanking the pair, including (left to right) Sens. Hagerty, Cruz and Cramer. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, can be seen in the MAGA hat to Musk’s right
Elon Musk gives US President-elect Donald Trump and lawmakers a tour of the control room before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, US, November 19, 2024
“Good luck to Elon Musk and the Great Patriots involved in this incredible project!”
Ultimately, the launch and separation were successful, but the spaceship’s booster landing did not go as planned and part of the rocket landed in the Gulf of Mexico and not on the landing pad as expected.
The moment capped a long journey for Trump and Musk.
The visit to Musk’s company highlights Trump and his budding relationship — and the Republican’s growing fascination with space exploration.
Trump mentioned Musk and his astonishing space-related achievements repeatedly during his campaign.
“Did you see how that loser landed today?” Trump said in early October to praise one of SpaceX’s recent launches and subsequent landings.
“It just needs a new paint job,” he noted of the rocket’s burned exterior that burst into flames as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere.
“That’s a lot cheaper than building a new one, right?”
SpaceX launch towers prepared for takeoff. The spaceship rocket is 9 meters wide and stands at a towering height of 100 meters
At another meeting in October, Trump again complimented X’s owner.
‘Elon is a great guy, he is one of our geniuses. We must protect our geniuses and care for our geniuses. There are not that many,” Trump said in late October.
He often exclaimed how impressed he was with how the company was able to develop rockets that could be collected after return to Earth.
Although the president-elect could not see the feat, it happened because the missile was forced to land in the gulf.
The Tesla CEO spent a lot of time in swing states campaigning for the president-elect and started a PAC worth millions to support reelection efforts.
Due to his loyalty and support, Trump recently appointed Musk, along with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to head his newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
On Wednesday, Trump showed his support for his loyal friend by attending Musk’s most consequential launch yet.
Trump flew around the launch site on his Trump Force One plane before landing to watch the launch.
A video posted by Trump aide Margo Martin shows the plane circling two launch towers facing the Gulf of Mexico and preparing the missiles for takeoff.