It’s Only Earth, We Have the Stars: Trump, Musk, and Manifest Destiny

• In Event: Crime, Law, Justice and the Trump Administration 3: Regulatory Rollbacks and Environmental Threats

Abstract

As the climate crisis continues to worsen, many countries and leaders across the globe give symbolic and empty climate pledges. Additionally, with the growing number of environmental protection rollbacks, we will continue witnessing worsening conditions. One week after Trump’s inauguration, the United States Environmental Protection Agency removed all climate change and climate justice information listed on the website’s home page and other obvious areas, this followed his executive order to “Unleash American Energy”. Add to this, Trump and Musk’s ambitions and SpaceX’s breakthroughs including Starship will pose an even greater threat to Earth, humanity, and other living species. For example, consider Musk’s techno-utopian vision of human spacefaring civilization, Trump’s revival of Manifest Destiny and his promise of “launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars” and the projected number of space launches during 2025. With each rocket launch, reentry, additional satellites, the environmental impact worsens such as black soot (carbon), other toxins, debris,

Authors

• Dawn Rothe, Florida Atlantic University

• Victoria Collins, University of Kentucky