Elon Musk criticized Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who is also the acting administrator of NASA, claiming that he’s “trying to kill” the agency. “Sean Dummy is trying to kill NASA!” Musk said. Sean Dummy is trying to kill NASA! https://t.co/cP0RxP09rt — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 21, 2025 “The person responsible for America’s space program can’t have a 2 digit IQ,” Musk said in a separate post. The person responsible for America’s space program can’t have a 2 digit IQ https://t.co/U4O2GERiTg — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 21, 2025 NBC News shared background info: Musk’s posts came after Duffy announced on Monday that in NASA’s quest to return astronauts to the moon — and to do so before China puts its own bootprints there — the agency is open to using moon landers from competitors to SpaceX. NASA’s plan had been to use SpaceX’s next-generation Starship rocket system, which is in development, to land on the lunar surface. In his posts on Tuesday, Musk even created a poll for his X followers to weigh in, asking: “Should someone whose biggest claim to fame is climbing trees be running America’s space program?” One response option read, “Yezz, chimps skillz rūl!” while the other was, “Noo, he need moar brainz!” As of Tuesday afternoon, the poll had nearly 110,000 votes. SpaceX won a $2.9 billion contract in 2021 to use its Starship rocket system to land two astronauts on the lunar surface for NASA’s Artemis III mission, which is slated to launch in 2027. But Musk’s rocket company has fallen behind schedule with its testing and development of Starship, and the vehicle suffered a string of explosive failures earlier this year. Should someone whose biggest claim to fame is climbing trees be running America’s space program? — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 21, 2025 Musk’s post is referencing Duffy’s career as a professional lumberjack, winning multiple titles in speed climbing. “So, I’m going to open up the contract. I’m going to let other space companies compete with SpaceX,” Duffy said during an interview, according to CNN. Duffy also reportedly said SpaceX does “remarkable things,” but that “they’re behind schedule.” “Now that Duffy’s in the room, SpaceX contracts are about to get real scrutiny,” Bannon’s WarRoom said in July. Watch Bannon’s comments below: BANNON: This is why Trump picked Sean Duffy as interim head of NASA. When everyone was worshipping Elmo Musk, Duffy called him a liar to his face about laying off air traffic controllers. Now that Duffy’s in the room, SpaceX contracts are about to get real scrutiny. pic.twitter.com/COC8XGB9qf — Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) July 10, 2025 CNN noted: Musk also responded to reporting from the Wall Street Journal that Musk ally Jared Isaacman may be back in the running to lead the agency, as Duffy jockeys to fold NASA completely under the Transportation Department. Trump had pulled Isaacman’s nomination for NASA administrator earlier this year – the same week Musk departed his role in Washington. Though Trump cited Isaacman’s “prior associations” as the reason for pulling the nomination, CNN previously reported that a faction of people in Trump’s inner circle advocated against Isaacman after Musk left Washington and shortly before Musk’s very public falling out with the President. But Isaacman — who has twice flown to orbit on SpaceX capsules he commissioned — has reportedly been back in the running, and a source familiar with the matter confirmed he has met with Trump.

A small plane made an emergency landing Tuesday on Mission Beach in San Diego. “A small Cessna landed on the shore in Mission Beach about 20 minutes after takeoff this morning. The pilot and his daughter were over Bird Rock when the engine started to give out,” Collin Rugg wrote. “A witness on the beach said the pilot picked the ‘perfect spot’ to land, according to NBC San Diego. No one was injured, according to fire officials,” he added. Check it out: JUST IN: Plane makes an emergency landing on the beach in San Diego, California. A small Cessna landed on the shore in Mission Beach about 20 minutes after takeoff this morning. The pilot and his daughter were over Bird Rock when the engine started to give out. A witness on… pic.twitter.com/MB6eDS2R7J — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 21, 2025 The San Diego Union-Tribune has more: When the engine on his small plane suddenly quit about 800 feet above the San Diego coastline, pilot Victor Schneider started looking for a safe place to land. He and his daughter had taken off from the Oceanside airport about 15 minutes earlier. Schneider, a commercial airline pilot who has owned the Cessna for more than 23 years, found a spot on the sand in Mission Beach near the waterline. Shortly before noon, he glided to a stop. He and his daughter opened the doors and climbed out of the plane after the emergency landing. No one on the ground was injured, either. Schneider told reporters he tried to restart the plane’s engine after it cut out, but he realized he “couldn’t get it back.” A small plane landed on the shores of Mission Beach, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue. Authorities said two people were on board and no injuries were reported. pic.twitter.com/FJTFAV3IXy — KUSI News (@KUSINews) October 21, 2025 “The thing is you want to put it down where it’s safe, and I didn’t want to hit anybody,” Schneider said, according to the outlet. “So fortunately there wasn’t that many people on the beach. There was only about four people within about a quarter of a mile, so they were all widely spaced,” he added. Weather conditions in the area reportedly weren’t ideal for spending a day at the beach. FOX 5 San Diego noted: Schneider says he had about 10 feet of hard sand to land on and had to also maneuver the landing amid high tide. “I had a complete engine failure,” Schneider said. “I came over onto the beach, and there were very few people. I had a really good open spot to put it on the beach.” The two were not injured during the emergency landing. There were also no injuries reported from beachgoers. The plane is a 1953 Cessna 170, and Schneider says he’s logged about 25,000 hours of flying over the years. He’s had this Cessna for over 23 years, and he says this is the first time he’s had a problem with it. The FAA is expected to arrive to help move the plane from the shore and return it to Oceanside, where it departed.

Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced her office completed a full comparison of the state’s voter registration list against “citizenship data in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ SAVE database.” Nelson’s office found over 2,700 “potential noncitizens who are registered to vote in Texas.” “Only eligible United States citizens may participate in our elections,” Nelson said. “The Trump Administration’s decision to give states free and direct access to this data set for the first time has been a game changer, and we appreciate the partnership with the federal government to verify the citizenship of those on our voter rolls and maintain accurate voter lists,” she added. Texas has completed citizenship verifications of the entire state voter list using the SAVE database, thanks to the federal government's recent decision to grant states free and direct access to this data set. Learn more: https://t.co/d6CmR0j53t pic.twitter.com/UhZEJnxd5S — Texas Secretary of State (@TXsecofstate) October 20, 2025 Nelson’s office wrote: After running the entire Texas voter list with more than 18 million voters through the SAVE database, the SOS has identified 2,724 potential noncitizens who are registered to vote in Texas. Last week those voter files were provided to Texas counties, who will now conduct their own investigations into the eligibility of these voters as part of their statutory responsibilities to remove ineligible voters from the rolls under Chapter 16 of the Texas Election Code. Once that process is complete, individuals who are deemed noncitizens that voted in a Texas election will be referred to the Office of the Attorney General. The process for removing noncitizens from the rolls is outlined under Sections 16.033 and 16.0332 of the Texas Election Code. Voters identified as potential non-citizens will receive a notice from the county voter registrar. These individuals may present proof of citizenship in order to remain a registered voter. If a response is not received by the county in 30 days, the registration will be cancelled. In the event that a registration is cancelled, it can be immediately reinstated by providing proof of U.S. citizenship to an elections office or at a polling location. “Everyone’s right to vote is sacred and must be protected. We encourage counties to conduct rigorous investigations to determine if any voter is ineligible — just as they do with any other data set we provide,” Nelson said. “The SAVE database has proven to be a critically important data set and one of many that we will continue to use in Texas to ensure that only qualified voters cast a ballot in our elections,” she added. “The Texas Secretary of State identified over 2,700 potential illegal immigrants are registered to vote. We are removing them from the voter rolls. Only US citizens can vote in Texas,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said. The Texas Secretary of State identified over 2,700 potential illegal immigrants are registered to vote. We are removing them from the voter rolls. Only US citizens can vote in Texas.https://t.co/gTmfYWqny6 — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) October 21, 2025 Fox News shared more: The announcement comes amid growing national scrutiny of voter rolls as several states – including Georgia, Arizona and Florida – have conducted similar audits of voter eligibility. Republican Governor Greg Abbott said that since Senate Bill 1 was signed into law, Texas has removed more than 1 million ineligible or outdated registrations from the state’s voter rolls, calling the effort essential to safeguard Texans’ right to vote. “These reforms have led to the removal of over one million ineligible people from our voter rolls in the last three years, including noncitizens, deceased voters, and people who moved to another state,” Abbott said. “The Secretary of State and county voter registrars have an ongoing legal requirement to review the voter rolls, remove ineligible voters, and refer any potential illegal voting to the Attorney General’s Office and local authorities for investigation and prosecution. Illegal voting in Texas will never be tolerated. We will continue to actively safeguard Texans’ sacred right to vote while also aggressively protecting our elections from illegal voting.” Abbott has called the initiative proof that Texas is “leading the nation in election integrity.” A breakdown of the information was released by the secretary of state’s office showing Harris County with the largest number of potential noncitizens at 362, followed by Dallas County (277), Bexar County (201) and El Paso County (165).

The planned meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest is off the table, multiple outlets report. A White House official said on Tuesday there are no plans for a meeting “in the immediate future,” ABC News noted. The announcement follows a conversation between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. BREAKING: Trump’s meeting with Putin in Hungary called off — The Telegraph pic.twitter.com/JG8HSgYUpo — Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) October 21, 2025 POLITICO shared: “Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Lavrov had a productive call,” said a White House official granted anonymity to discuss the plans. “Therefore, an additional in-person meeting between the Secretary and Foreign Minister is not necessary, and there are no plans for President Trump to meet with President Putin in the immediate future.” The rapid dissolution of plans for another summit between Trump and Putin just two months after they met in Alaska stemmed again from Russia’s refusal to budge from its maximalist positions on what it would take for it to halt its war in Ukraine. In a press conference in Moscow Tuesday, Lavrov said he informed Rubio that Russia’s position — that a peace agreement must come before a ceasefire in its war with Ukraine — has not changed. “I believe American officials have concluded that Russia’s position has remained largely unchanged over time and remains within the bounds of its initial maximalist demands,” Lavrov said. “Russia has not altered its positions compared to understandings and prolonged negotiations between Putin and Trump in Alaska.” Lavrov ‘dismissed’ media reports that the Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest was postponed, according to RT. Watch Lavrov’s comments below: Lavrov dismisses media reports that Putin-Trump meeting in Hungary has been postponed 'I was surprised to read that today' https://t.co/4f0KEaOYLe pic.twitter.com/jIcO1frNAT — RT (@RT_com) October 21, 2025 ABC News provided further info: Zelenskyy was in Washington to make his case for coveted U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles and other military assets. Zelenskyy said on Monday that the Trump administration decided not to provide Ukraine with the long-range Tomahawks that would give Kyiv the ability to strike deeper inside Russia, but said the “issue is not off the table.” Still, Zelenskyy described the White House meeting as positive and said he was waiting to see whether he would be invited to join the now-called off sitdown between Trump and Putin in Budapest. Trump has called for the Russia-Ukraine war to end along its current battle lines, and denied a report from the Financial Times that he insisted Zelenskyy surrender the entire Donbas region to Russia. On Monday, Trump softened his previous comments when he said he believed Ukraine could win back all its territory currently occupied by Russia. “Well they could,” Trump said. “They could still win it. I don’t think they will but they could still win it. I never said they would win it. I said they — anything can happen. You know war is a very strange thing. A lot of bad things happen. A lot of good things happen.”

Former Navy SEAL and fifth-generation Kentucky farmer Ed Gallrein, who received a preemptive endorsement from President Trump, has officially launched an effort to defeat Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) in the GOP primary. “I’ve dedicated my life to serving my country, and I’m ready to answer the call again,” Gallrein said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital. “This district is Trump Country. The President doesn’t need obstacles in Congress – he needs backup. I’ll defeat Thomas Massie, stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump, and deliver the America First results Kentuckians voted for,” he continued. New: Former Navy Seal Ed Gallrein who was endorsed by President Trump has officially launched a primary challenge to Thomas Massie pic.twitter.com/M20kYxt5hH — The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) October 21, 2025 Fox News has more: Gallrein served three decades in uniform, rising to the rank of captain. According to his campaign bio, he served multiple times on SEAL Team SIX, deploying to Panama, Afghanistan and Iraq, and earned four Bronze Stars and two Presidential Unit Citations. His campaign release also highlighted that “Gallrein’s roots run deep in Kentucky.” He was born and raised in the state. And his family, which has farmed for over a century, built Kentucky’s largest dairy farm and Gallrein Grain Farms, one of the state’s largest grain operations. Massie took aim at Gallrein following Trump’s social media endorsement, calling him a “failed candidate and establishment hack,” as he pointed to Gallrein’s unsuccessful run last year for the state Senate. “After having been rejected by every elected official in the 4th District, Trump’s consultants clearly pushed the panic button with their choice of failed candidate and establishment hack Ed Gallrein,” Massie said in a statement to Politico. “Ed’s been begging them to pick him for over three months now.” Trump started targeting Massie for ouster earlier this year over the seven-term lawmaker’s opposition to the “one, big beautiful bill,” which passed the GOP-controlled Congress early in the summer nearly entirely along party lines. The sweeping GOP megalaw is the president’s major legislative achievement since returning to the White House. “Third Rate Congressman Thomas Massie, a Weak and Pathetic RINO from the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, a place I love, and won big SIX TIMES, must be thrown out of office, ASAP! The incredible people of Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District gave us a mandate to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and the person that will help us do that is Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Fifth Generation Kentucky Farmer, Captain Ed Gallrein, a true America First Patriot,” Trump previously said on Truth Social. “A Brave Combat Veteran, Ed knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Defend our Country, Support our Military/Veterans, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. Additionally, as a very successful Businessman, Ed knows how to Create GREAT Jobs, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Support our Amazing Farmers and American Agriculture, Unleash American Energy Dominance, and Champion our Nation’s Golden Age. In Congress, he will fight tirelessly to Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump continued. “I hope Ed gets into the Race against Massie, who is now polling at about 9% because the Great People of Kentucky are wise to him — He only votes against the Republican Party, making life very easy for the Radical Left. Unlike ‘lightweight’ Massie, a totally ineffective LOSER who has failed us so badly, CAPTAIN ED GALLREIN IS A WINNER WHO WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. Should he decide to challenge Massie, Captain Ed Gallrein has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, ED, RUN — MAGA!” he added. POLITICO noted: The president has been searching for a challenger to Massie since the Kentuckian voted against the “big, beautiful bill.” Trump’s political operation launched a super PAC aimed at unseating Massie in June, as the representative pushed to reassert congressional authority over Trump’s military actions in Iran. The group, MAGA KY, has spent $1.8 million on independent expenditures so far. Trump’s effort is coming to a head just as Massie is poised to secure the required 218 signatures to end-run Speaker Mike Johnson and force a floor vote on compelling release of the Justice Department’s entire file on the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Trump and his team also vetted state Sen. Aaron Reed, who narrowly defeated Gallrein in the GOP primary for that seat last year. Some Republicans had hoped former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron would drop his bid to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell and enter the race against Massie instead.