Bezos 'very optimistic' about Trump's space agenda

Jeff Bezos, owner of aerospace company Blue Origin, expressed optimism about the incoming Trump administration's space policy, emphasizing on Sunday he is not concerned over competitor Elon Musk's allyship with the president-elect.

"Elon has been very clear that he's doing this for the public interest and not for his personal gain. And I take him at face value," Bezos told Reuters on Sunday, adding later he is "very optimistic" about President-elect Trump's space policy.

Bezos and Musk, the owner of SpaceX and Tesla, have repeatedly clashed in the public eye in recent years over their decidedly different personalities and political viewers.

Musk's critics and government watchdogs raised concerns last year that Musk would try to use his growing influence in Trump's orbit to suppress competitors of his own technology ventures, though the billionaire later suggested he would not abuse his relationship with the president-elect to benefit his competitive standing.

The tech billionaire dished out more than $250 million dollars to help reelect Trump, and is serving as the co-leader of a government efficient advisory panel, "Department of Government Efficiency," or DOGE, aimed at slashing government spending and regulations.

Musk’s SpaceX leads the aerospace and rocket industry, hosting nearly 100 launches last year and deploying thousands of its Starlink internet satellites across the country.

Bezos' Blue Origin, founded in 2000, has lagged behind SpaceX when it comes to rocket launches. It has yet to reach orbit or fly a national security mission, and is currently in direct competition with SpaceX and United Launch Alliance for $5.6 billion worth of Pentagon contracts over the next five years.

The debut launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket was slated to take off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early Monday, but an unspecified rocket issue delayed the event. The company did not immediately release a new launch date, stating more time was needed to resolve the issue.

Bezos reignited the feud over the companies last June, when he filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration to limit Starship launches, citing environmental concerns.  

Musk at the time called the move an “obviously disingenuous response,” nicknaming the company “Sue Origin” at the time. And in 2021, Bezos sued NASA over awarding a lunar lander contract to SpaceX, but ultimately lost the suit.  

Bezos was one of several tech leaders to meet with Trump in recent weeks at his Mar-a-Lago resort while his company, Amazon, donated $1 million to the president-elect's inaugural fund.

He has faced criticism from Trump and the political right for years.

Bezos's ownership of the Washington Post, a publication that made a name for itself during Trump’s first term with aggressive coverage of the former president, has earned him regular scorn from conservative critics.  

The Washington Post did not endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election at the direction of Bezos. This occurred even though the paper’s editorial board had already drafted an endorsement of Vice President Harris, sparking concerns the billionaire was attempting to appease Trump.