Back in 2015, Bezos wanted to launch Trump into orbit after the at-the-time presidential candidate fired shots at Bezos on what was Twitter, now X, calling the Washington Post, which Bezos owns, a “tax shelter,” Bezos responded that he’d use Blue Origin, a space company Bezos founded, to “#sendDonaldtospace.”
Times have certainly changed. In January, Bezos said he is “very optimistic” about the administration’s space agenda. Behind the scenes, he has reportedly given Trump political advice, allegedly as early as the summer of 2024, according to Axios.
There was a brief flare-up in April, though, after Amazon reportedly considered listing Trump’s tariffs next to products’ prices on the site, according to Punchbowl News. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the plan a “hostile and political action.” The idea, which was never implemented, was scrapped, and an Amazon spokesperson insisted it was only ever meant for its low-cost Haul store.
If Trump does cancel Musk’s SpaceX government contracts as he threatened to do, Bezos’ Blue Origin, and rival to SpaceX, could stand to benefit. Blue Origin already has a $3 billion contract with NASA.