President-elect Donald Trump’s 17-year-old granddaughter, Kai Trump, gave the world an exclusive peek behind the scenes of SpaceX’s recent rocket launch in Texas. The video, shared on her social media account, highlighted her journey to the SpaceX site and offered a glimpse into candid conversations between Trump, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, and Senator Ted Cruz.
Kai, the daughter of Donald Trump Jr., has been a vocal supporter of her grandfather and is steadily becoming a familiar face in the public eye. In the video she posted to X (formerly Twitter), Kai is seen aboard a private jet alongside a friend, eagerly making her way to witness the groundbreaking event.
Upon arrival at SpaceX’s sprawling rocket development site in Boca Chica, Texas, Kai captured intimate moments of Musk discussing the launch with her grandfather and Sen. Cruz. The footage, set against the backdrop of SpaceX’s towering Starship rocket, offered a rare perspective on the interaction between the tech innovator and political figures.
In the video, Musk explained some of the technical challenges and advancements behind SpaceX’s ambitious Starship rocket system. Addressing Trump and Cruz, Musk detailed how the rocket’s return to land depends on everything being “super green.” He admitted that the team had concerns about the tower and instead commanded the rocket to land in the sea.
When Trump asked if the rocket could be recovered from the water, Musk responded, “It’s probably going to blow up. But that’s fine. We actually have better versions in production.”
Musk elaborated on the improvements being made to the next-generation rockets, noting, “The specific next one we have has a lot of small improvements. There’s a big version increase that’ll be flying next year. That’s got the version three of our engines — that’ll look very different. It will be longer, have a lot more thrust, and feature the new generation engines.”
Watching a Rocket Launch at SpaceX with Elon Musk! pic.twitter.com/9YvhWALM4P
— Kai Trump (@kaitrump) November 26, 2024
The exchange showcased Trump’s curiosity about technological advancements and Musk’s pragmatic approach to innovation.
The rocket launched at 4 p.m. CT (2200 GMT) and reached an altitude of 40 miles (62 kilometers) before the Super Heavy booster detached from the Starship’s second stage, successfully sending it into space. This marked a significant achievement for SpaceX, as the system is designed to carry astronauts to the moon and, eventually, Mars.
However, the booster unexpectedly splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico rather than returning to its designated landing site. It was initially planned to be caught by large mechanical arms attached to the tower from which it launched. Musk later indicated that the diversion to water suggested an issue during the return process.
“If it doesn’t blow up, we do have ships to try to bring it back,” Musk said in the video. “And then we can inspect it to learn more.”
Kai’s video not only highlighted her enthusiasm for space exploration but also underscored her growing prominence in the Trump family’s public image. Her social media post, captioned “Watching a Rocket Launch at SpaceX with Elon Musk!” quickly gained traction, drawing attention to her role as a young representative of the Trump family.
The behind-the-scenes footage also hinted at the intersection of technology, politics, and ambition. With Trump set to begin his next term as president, his family’s involvement in high-profile events like this underscores their ongoing influence in both cultural and political arenas.
Musk’s openness about the risks and rewards of SpaceX’s innovations adds to the growing narrative of private industry’s pivotal role in space exploration. As SpaceX pushes the boundaries of what’s possible, the presence of figures like Trump and Cruz at the launch site signals the importance of government and private collaboration in advancing humanity’s reach beyond Earth.
For SpaceX, the mission represented another step toward its ultimate goal of making interplanetary travel a reality. Despite the setback with the booster’s return, Musk’s team remains optimistic about future launches.
As for Kai Trump, her growing public presence suggests she may play an increasingly prominent role in her family’s legacy. By sharing her experiences with millions, she offers a personal connection to the historic events shaping the future of space travel.
With both SpaceX and the Trump family commanding attention in their respective spheres, this behind-the-scenes glimpse serves as a reminder of how innovation, ambition, and influence continue to shape the world.
Great stuff! Recommend Kai run for president as soon as she’s old enough. 😉 President Trump referred to that N Korea crackpot dictator as “Little Rocketman.” That putrid piece of sub-human waste would not make a pimple on the A$$ of Elon, “The BIG, MAGA, Rocketman!”
What an outstanding young lady. Her parents have done a fantastic job raising her. I was so impressed with her when she spoke at the Republican Convention talking about her Grandpa. She is so talented and a great golfer. She will be playing in college.