23 hours ago
Last Updated:April 18, 2025, 16:58 IST
Responding to the claims, Musk clarified that SpaceX has not attempted to bid for any such defence contract
Donald Trump and Elon Musk (Photo: Reuters)
Tech billionaire Elon Musk dismissed reports claiming that his company, SpaceX, along with two other firms, had emerged as frontrunners to win a major contract under former US President Donald Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome" missile defence system.
Responding to the claims, Musk clarified that SpaceX has not attempted to bid for any such defence contract. He made the statement while replying to a post on X.
In his post, Musk wrote: “SpaceX has not tried to bid for any contract in this regard."
SpaceX has not tried to bid for any contract in this regard.Our strong preference would be to stay focused on taking humanity to Mars.
If the President asks us to help in this regard, we will do so, but I hope that other companies (not SpaceX) can do this.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 17, 2025
The Tesla and SpaceX owner made it clear that the company’s main mission remains space exploration. “Our strong preference would be to stay focused on taking humanity to Mars," he stated.
However, Musk said that if Trump personally asks SpaceX to get involved, the company would help.
“If the President asks us to help in this regard, we will do so, but I hope that other companies (not SpaceX) can do this," he noted.
Musk’s comments came a day after reports emerged that his rocket and satellite company is partnering with software maker Palantir and drone builder Anduril.
What is Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ missile project about?
According to Reuters, the three firms have reportedly been in talks with top officials in the Trump administration and the Pentagon in recent weeks to present their plan for the Golden Dome. Their proposal includes launching between 400 and over 1,000 satellites to detect and track incoming missiles across the globe.
A second part of the plan reportedly includes a fleet of around 200 attack satellites equipped with missiles or lasers designed to destroy enemy missiles in flight. However, sources told Reuters that SpaceX is not expected to take part in the weaponisation side of the project.
Notably, all the three companies involved in the proposal were founded by entrepreneurs known to support Trump politically. Musk has reportedly donated more than a quarter of a billion dollars to support Trump’s election efforts and currently serves as a special adviser to the President, focusing on cutting government spending through the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
(With inputs from Reuters)
Location :Chicago, United States of America (USA)
First Published:April 18, 2025, 16:34 IST
News world 'If President Asks Us...': Elon Musk Denies SpaceX Bid For Trump's Golden Dome Missile Project
