Donald Trump tried to cut ties with Elon Musk’s SpaceX following their fallout, it has been reported. As Mr Trump’s relationship with his former “first buddy” descended into a bitter feud, the US president suggested he could save public money by terminating contracts awarded to Mr Musk’s companies.

Now that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and president Donald Trump are no longer seeing eye to eye, the White House is struggling to undercut the richest man in the world's influence in Washington, DC. As the Wall Street Journal reports,

Following the fallout between Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump, the administration explored the possibility of cutting contracts awarded to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, but concluded that it was not possible as SpaceX was involved in critical work for the Department of Defense and Nasa and there were few to no alternatives,