Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on why Elon Musk's close ties with Donald Trump do not 'worry' him

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has stated that he is unconcerned about Elon Musk's close association with former U.S. President Donald Trump, despite their competition in the space industry. In a recent interview with Reuters, Bezos expressed confidence in Musk's intentions, dismissing the notion that Musk might leverage his relationship with Trump to harm Blue Origin, Bezos' space exploration company.

Bezos emphasised that Musk has been clear about his commitment to the public interest rather than personal gain. "Elon has been very clear that he's doing this for the public interest and not for his personal gain. And I take him at face value," Bezos said.

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The comments come as Blue Origin prepares for the debut launch of its New Glenn rocket, a significant milestone in its efforts to compete with Musk's SpaceX. Musk, who has invested heavily in Trump's political campaigns, has had the former president's ear on space-related matters. Last month, Musk suggested that the US should prioritise missions to Mars over returning to the moon, raising concerns about potential changes to NASA's space exploration program.

Bezos, however, remains optimistic about the future of space exploration under the new administration. He believes that both lunar and Martian missions are essential and should continue without interruption. "My own opinion is that we should do both - we need to go to the moon and we should go to Mars. What we shouldn't do is start and stop things. We should continue with the lunar program for sure," Bezos added.

As the space race intensifies, Bezos' confidence in Musk's integrity and the broader goals of space exploration highlights the collaborative spirit that drives innovation in the industry.
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