Jeff Bezos has intensified efforts to court President Donald Trump for lucrative government contracts, speaking with the president at least twice in June as Blue Origin seeks to capitalize on a growing rift between Trump and rival SpaceX founder Elon Musk, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The Amazon founder's space company is pushing for a larger share of federal aerospace deals, viewing Trump's public fallout with his former top adviser Musk as a strategic opening to challenge SpaceX's dominance in the government contracting space.
Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp traveled to the White House to meet with Chief of Staff Susie Wiles as part of the company's intensified lobbying campaign, the Journal reported12. During recent meetings, Trump expressed interest in seeing a crewed moon mission completed during his presidency, presenting an opportunity for Blue Origin to position itself as a key partner in achieving that goal1.
The outreach represents a calculated shift for Bezos, who has worked to repair his relationship with Trump despite previous tensions. Bezos has even invited Trump to his upcoming wedding, according to the Journal1.
The courtship comes as SpaceX continues to outpace Blue Origin in securing government deals. In April, the Space Force awarded SpaceX $5.9 billion in contracts compared to Blue Origin's $2.4 billion allocation123. SpaceX is expected to handle 28 missions under the latest procurement round, while Blue Origin received just seven missions starting next year3.
The disparity in operational capability remains stark. SpaceX conducted over 130 launches last year, while Blue Origin managed only four2. In 2025, SpaceX is targeting 170 orbital launches and had completed 76 missions by mid-June4.
The Bezos-Musk rivalry has intensified as both billionaires compete for aerospace supremacy. Blue Origin has previously asked federal regulators to limit SpaceX launches at Cape Canaveral, prompting Musk to mockingly refer to the company as "Sue Origin" on social media12.
Despite concerns about Musk's influence with Trump, Bezos has publicly downplayed potential conflicts. "Elon has been very clear that he's doing this for the public interest and not for personal gain," Bezos told Reuters in January. "And I take him at face value"3.
Meanwhile, Musk has privately warned Trump that his businesses could suffer over political disagreements, the Journal reported4. The dynamics have created an opening that Blue Origin appears eager to exploit as it seeks to narrow the gap with its more established rival.
