Trump pulls pick for NASA administrator, citing 'review of prior associations'

President Donald Trump said Saturday he is pulling the nomination of billionaire Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator, citing "a thorough review of prior associations."

President Donald Trump said Saturday he is pulling the nomination of billionaire Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator, citing "a thorough review of prior associations."

Trump, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, did not elaborate on what associations he was referring to.

"After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA," Trump said in the social media post. "I will soon announce a new Nominee who will be Mission aligned, and put America First in Space."

Trump in December said he was nominating Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur who has never been in federal government, as NASA administrator. At the time, Trump said that "Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration."

White House spokesperson Liz Huston said earlier Saturday that “it’s essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump’s America First agenda.”