WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly set to attend a SpaceX “Starship” rocket launch on Tuesday, highlighting the growing influence of founder Elon Musk within Republican circles.
The Federal Aviation Administration has established temporary flight restrictions over the Brownsville and Boca Chica regions of Texas for a special VIP visit, which aligns with the scheduled launch window for testing SpaceX’s imposing Starship rocket from its Gulf of Mexico launch site. These restrictions, which will affect airspace over Trump’s residence in Palm Beach, Florida, will briefly pause while the Texas measures remain in effect.
Trump’s anticipated visit comes during a time when billionaire Musk has been increasingly present alongside him, assisting in the formation of his administration. Musk has participated in meetings held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate and joined him for discussions with Republican leaders on Capitol Hill last week as well as in attendance at a UFC event in New York on Saturday.
During his campaign, Trump frequently captivated audiences with an account of the previous Starship test, featuring the dramatic landing of the booster with the aid of mechanical arms at the launchpad.
The launch window on Tuesday is scheduled to last 30 minutes, beginning at 4 p.m. Central Time. SpaceX aims to test the landing capture mechanism of the booster as the upper stage proceeds toward a splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
Musk has reportedly funneled approximately $200 million through his political action committee to support Trump’s election efforts. Furthermore, he, along with former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, has been appointed to lead an advisory committee focused on significant reductions in government expenditure and a complete overhaul of Washington’s operational structure. This initiative has raised ethical concerns regarding Musk’s various interests that intersect with federal government matters.
As of now, the Trump transition team has not responded to inquiries concerning the president-elect’s plans for the launch event.
