Donald Trump has touched down at the SpaceX headquarters in Boca Chica, Texas, ahead of Elon Musk’s largest launch yet.
The company launched its biggest rocket to date and the president-elect has tagged along with his new buddy Musk to watch the event unfold.
The company conducted its sixth launch of its Starship rocket – the largest ever made.
Lift off occured around 5:00 p.m. 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 old White House Physician Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, was also in attendance.
The group of ‘MAGAvengers’ were pictured listening intently as Musk explained how the 396-foot starship will make it off the ground.
Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. and granddaughter Kai Trump were also spotted at the SpaceX campus.
‘I’m heading to the Great State of Texas to watch the launch of the largest object ever to be elevated, not only to Space, but simply by lifting off the ground,’ Trump posted on social media ahead of the journey to south Texas.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump looks on during a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., 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’s headquarters in south Texas on Wednesday. Several lawmakers can also be seen flanking the pair including (from left to right) Sens. Hagerty, Cruz, and Cramer. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, can be seen in the MAGA hat to the right of Musk
Elon Musk gives a tour to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and lawmakers of the control room before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., 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 starship 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 anticipated.
The moment sealed a long journey for Trump and Musk.
The visit to Musk’s company highlights Trump and his burgeoning relationship – and the Republican’s growing fascination with space exploration.
Trump repeatedly mentioned Musk and his amazing space-related feats on the campaign trail.
‘Did you see the way that sucker landed today?’ Trump said in early October lauding one of SpaceX’s recent launchings and subsequent landings.
‘It only needs a new paint job,’ he remarked of the burnt exterior of the rocket that was engulfed in flames upon reentering the earth’s atmosphere.
‘That’s a lot cheaper than building a new one, right?’
SpaceX launch towers prepared before take off. The starship rocket is 30 feet wide and stands at a towering 396 feet
At another rally in October, Trump again complimented the X owner.
‘Elon is a great guy, he’s one of our geniuses. We have to protect our geniuses and we have to take care of our geniuses. There aren’t too many of them,’ Trump said in late October.
He often exclaimed how impressed he was with how the company was able to engineer rockets that could be caught after hurdling back to Earth.
Though president-elect was unable to see the feat this go around as the rocket was forced to land in the gulf.
The Tesla CEO spent significant time in swing states campaigning for the president-elect and began a PAC worth millions to support the reelection effort.
For his loyalty and support Trump recently appointed Musk, along with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead his newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
On Wednesday Trump showed his support for his loyal buddy by attending Musk’s most consequential launch to date.
Trump took a fly around the launch site on his plane Trump Force One ahead of landing to watch the launch.
A video posted by Trump aide Margo Martin shows the plane circling two launch towers edged up against the Gulf of Mexico preparing the rockets for take off.