NASA’s Acting Administrator Sean Duffy seems to have drawn the ire of Elon Musk.

Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX, took to social media on Tuesday to criticize Mr. Duffy’s intelligence and recent actions as the leader of the space agency.

“Sean Dummy is trying to destroy NASA!” Musk stated on X, using a derogatory nickname for the acting administrator. In another post, he remarked: “There’s no way the leader of America’s space program can have a double-digit IQ.”

On Monday, Duffy announced that NASA is considering utilizing a lunar lander from a SpaceX competitor to help return astronauts to the moon before China establishes its presence there.

NASA initially planned to use SpaceX’s next-generation Starship rocket system for the lunar landing.

Musk conducted a poll on Tuesday asking his followers on X: “Should someone whose greatest achievement is climbing trees lead America’s space program?” One option was, “Yes, chimpanzees are good at it!” while the other suggested, “No, he needs More Brains!”

By Tuesday afternoon, the poll had garnered around 110,000 votes.

In 2021, SpaceX secured a $2.9 billion contract to use its Starship rocket to land two astronauts on the moon during NASA’s Artemis III mission, aimed for a 2027 launch.

However, Musk’s company has faced delays in the testing and development of Starship, which experienced several explosions this year.

Meanwhile, political pressure is mounting as the competition with China escalates; the nation is targeting a moon landing by 2030 and has already dispatched two robotic probes and tested a new rocket for manned lunar missions.

Duffy appeared on Fox News and CNBC on Monday, stating that NASA would expand the Artemis III contract, inviting proposals from rival space companies to maintain U.S. competitiveness against China.

“We are not going to wait for a single company,” Duffy reiterated in an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” on Monday. “We are focused on moving forward and winning the second space race against China.”

Duffy mentioned his and President Donald Trump’s goal to return astronauts to the moon during Trump’s second term.

He cited Blue Origin, the space launch company founded by Jeff Bezos, as a potential competitor capable of providing unique technology.

This statement appeared to antagonize Musk.

In a subsequent post, Musk questioned the ability of other commercial space firms to meet such stringent deadlines.

“In comparison to other space industries, SpaceX is advancing at remarkable speed,” he asserted. “Moreover, Starship will ultimately execute the full lunar mission. Mark my words.”

In reality, SpaceX is so ahead of its rivals that it is already conducting regular NASA missions to transport astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station.

Reacting to Musk’s remarks, Duffy replied on X: “Love the enthusiasm. The race to the moon is on. Great companies should welcome challenges. Competition among innovators benefits America!”

However, Musk’s tirade on Tuesday took a personal turn, questioning Duffy’s competence to lead NASA. Duffy is temporarily in charge of the agency; a Wall Street Journal report suggested he is positioning himself to continue in that role alongside his responsibilities as transportation secretary.

The report indicated that Duffy is contending against billionaire Jared Isaacman, who may reemerge as a candidate for the NASA leadership position. Trump had retracted Isaacman’s nomination in May, just ahead of an anticipated confirmation vote. This withdrawal followed what the president described as a “thorough review of prior connections.” (Trump did not elaborate, but some Republicans had expressed reservations that Isaacman previously donated to Democrats.)

Musk has shown support for Isaacman, who has made two orbital flights on commercial SpaceX missions.

NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens informed NBC News that President Trump has asked Duffy to consult with potential administrators, and that the interim administrator “will be glad to assist by evaluating candidates and providing honest feedback.”

“Sean is thankful to the president for this opportunity to lead NASA,” Stevens stated. “At the president’s direction, Sean is committed to ensuring America returns to the moon before China. He has indicated that NASA’s integration into the Cabinet, possibly even the Department of Transportation, might be beneficial, though he has never claimed he wishes to continue in this role.”

The White House did not respond to inquiries for comment.

The timing of Isaacman’s controversy in May coincided with a public feud between Trump and Musk, which escalated before the SpaceX CEO departed the White House on a special public service assignment. Musk’s departure was fraught with tension as he criticized President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” labeling it a “huge, outrageous, pig-filled Congressional spending plan” and a “distasteful, ugly bill” that would exacerbate the budget deficit.

playing cards We welcomed Duffy in July. Becomes interim administrator of NASA.