• Intuitive Machines, Firefly Aerospace, and ispace are all on their way to attempt a moon landing.
• Three private missions at once is notable, and it's just the beginning of the moon opening for business.
• Here's why three companies are flying to the moon right now.

Three companies are flying missions to land on the moon right now, in the early stages of a mad dash for lunar wealth.

The moon may not be Mars-obsessed Elon Musk's favorite space destination, but many other entrepreneurs see it as an untapped economic opportunity.

That's why two Texas-based companies and one Japanese firm are flocking to the moon this month.

All three missions were launched aboard SpaceX rockets.

None of them are carrying human crews, but they all lay the groundwork for more complex operations in the future as the moon opens for business.

Intuitive Machines wants to mine the moon

The Texas-based company Intuitive Machines launched its second moon-landing mission, called IM-2, on Wednesday.

The company became the first commercial enterprise to land on the moon a year ago, but the new mission is taking its ambitions further. The mission includes a rover and a hopper, which carry experimental technology for GPS on the moon and a small drill to test the technology needed to one day mine minerals and ice beneath the lunar surface.

Water ice on the moon could be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel, while minerals like titanium or rare earth elements used in smartphones and computers could be sold back on Earth.

"The whole package of this mission is about prospecting," Steve Altemus, the CEO of Intuitive Machines, told Business Insider in December.

He added that eventually, he hopes to mine rare materials on the moon and bring them back to Earth.

Firefly Aerospace is testing lunar dust for NASA

For now, Intuitive Machines is the only company to ever successfully land softly (that is, without crashing) on the moon. Another Texas company, Firefly Aerospace, is gunning for second place this weekend.

Firefly's Blue Ghost mission is set to attempt its first moon landing on Sunday.

"I think a lot of us will be holding our breath, you know, lighting a candle," Ray Allensworth, the director of Firefly's spacecraft program, told BI.

If Blue Ghost succeeds, it will run experiments on the lunar surface for about two weeks, which is a full lunar day.

All in all, the spacecraft is carrying 10 payloads for NASA, mainly focusing on "what the surface of the moon looks like or feels like, trying to figure out the impacts of the regolith, how the dust interacts with materials, the temperatures under the surface, stuff like that," Allensworth said.

Japan's ispace wants people to live on the moon

Both Texas companies' moon landers are funded in part through NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative.

The third mission en route to the moon, though, is from the Japanese company ispace.

The company's Hakuto-R spacecraft previously tried to land on the moon in 2023, but ispace reported that the lander had miscalculated its altitude when it detected an unexpected crater rim on the lunar surface, causing it to plummet and crash.

Ispace is trying again with a new mission carrying a lander and a micro-rover. The mission, called M2, launched aboard the same Falcon 9 rocket as the Firefly Blue Ghost spacecraft on January 15. M2 is taking a more leisurely route to the moon, though, with its landing set for May or June. The new lander is named RESILIENCE.

Ispace touts a future where the moon and its water resources support "construction, energy, steel procurement, communications, transportation, agriculture, medicine, and tourism."

The ispace website also advocates for permanent human residence on the moon, saying that "by 2040 the moon will support a population of 1,000, with 10,000 people visiting every year."

It's going to take a lot more moon missions to bring that vision to life. For now, for all three missions, just sticking the landing would be a huge achievement.

Following call delegation, Google Voice is making it easier to transfer personal numbers to Google Workspace business accounts.

Michelle Trachtenberg died in February 2025 at the age of 39.

“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” a rep for the actress told Us Weekly in a statement. “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”

Trachtenberg is survived by parents Michael and Lana, as well as her sister, Irene, and her boyfriend, talent agent Jay Cohen.

Trachtenberg had risen to fame in 1996’s Harriet the Spy, a decade before landing the role of Georgina Sparks on The CW’s Gossip Girl. (She also was known for her roles in Ice Princess, 17 Again and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.)

Michelle Trachtenberg Through the Years: Her Life and Career in Photos

“So sad to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg,” Ed Westwick, who played Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl, wrote via Instagram shortly after her passing. “Sending prayers.”

Keep scrolling for everything to know so far about Trachtenberg’s death:

When Did Michelle Trachtenberg Die?

Us confirmed on February 26, 2025, that Trachtenberg was found unconscious inside her New York City apartment that morning by her mother.

Has a Cause of Death Been Revealed?

An official cause of death has not been confirmed, with a police source telling Us that it’s “not yet apparent.”

Several hours after Lana discovered Trachtenberg’s body, another insider revealed that a medical examiner left the premises. Nothing was loaded into the vehicle, which drove off followed by a car belonging to two police officers.

“On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at approximately 0801 hours, police responded to a 911 call of an aided individual at 1 Columbus Place, within the confines of the Midtown North Precinct,'” local law enforcement officers told the Daily Mail in a statement. “Upon arrival, officers observed a 39-year-old female unconscious and unresponsive. EMS responded to the location and pronounced the victim deceased. Criminality is not suspected. The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. The investigation remains ongoing.”

Stars React to Michelle Trachtenberg’s Death at Age 39

She Previously Had a Liver Transplant

Multiple sources also confirmed to Us that Trachtenberg had a liver transplant ahead of her death. It is not known whether the organ transplant contributed to her passing.

What Were Michelle Trachtenberg’s Final Months Like?

Several of her neighbors spoke to Us about their experiences with the actress.

“Michelle always seemed happy, I never noticed anything off about her at all,” Rafael Williams, who lived above Trachtenberg, exclusively told Us. “I didn’t know her personally, but she always made a point to say ‘Hi’ in the elevator. It’s shocking to me because she didn’t seem to have a problem in the world. I just hope her family is OK.”

Neighbor Ariana Rodriguez also reflected on her own relationship with Trachtenberg.

“She wasn’t loud and smiled at everyone in the hallways,” Rodriguez recalled. “I saw her with her boyfriend a few times and they were always walking either hand-in-hand or with his arm around her. I’m so sad that I won’t be seeing her anymore in the building. She always said ‘Hi’ to me.”

Kenan Thompson is mourning the death of his fellow Nickelodeon child star Michelle Trachtenberg.

“Our first Nick movie star has departed us!!” Thompson, 46, wrote via Instagram shortly after news of Trachtenberg’s death at age 39 broke Wednesday, February 26. “She was my friend and now she rests!! Check on your people!!! .”

Thompson’s post featured a clip of the pair from the 1999 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. Trachtenberg served as a commentator during a “mega mini golf” competition between Thompson and Randy “Macho Man” Savage. Thompson also shared a more recent snap of himself and the actress taken at an event.

Several celebrities offered their condolences in the post’s comments. “Ohhh nooooooo RIP to her my condolences to her family,” Thompson’s former Saturday Night Live castmate Jay Pharoah commented, while Vanessa Bayer left three heart emojis underneath the post.

Stars React to Michelle Trachtenberg’s Death at Age 39

Thompson and Trachtenberg both got their Hollywood starts on Nickelodeon. Thompson famously starred on the sketch comedy series All That from 1994 to 2002 before getting his own series, Kenan & Kel, with Kel Mitchell. He and Mitchell, 46, also starred in the 1997 Nickelodeon original movie Good Burger, which got a 2023 sequel on Paramount+.

Trachtenberg, for her part, appeared in shows such as Clarissa Explains It All and The Adventures of Pete & Pete before booking her breakout film role in the 1996 Nickelodeon movie Harriet the Spy. She also made an appearance on a 1998 episode of the Nickelodeon children’s series Blue’s Clues.

Trachtenberg’s other Nickelodeon credits include a 1996 episode of the series Space Cases and appearing as herself on several episodes of the game show Figure It Out.

On Wednesday, police sources confirmed to Us Weekly that Trachtenberg was found unconscious inside her New York City apartment. Though her cause of death is “not yet apparent,” officials do not believe the circumstances surrounding her death to be suspicious. Sources also told Us that Trachtenberg had a liver transplant shortly before her death. She was reportedly found in her apartment by her mother, Lana.

“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” her rep said in a statement to Us on Wednesday. “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”

Michelle Trachtenberg Through the Years: Her Life and Career in Photos

Trachtenberg followed up her time on Nickelodeon with roles in many memorable projects, including Inspector Gadget, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Six Feet Under, Ice Princess, 17 Again, Mercy and Gossip Girl.

Thompson is one of several celebrities to pay tribute to Trachtenberg. Her Harriet the Spy costar Rosie O’Donnell (who also hosted the 1999 Kids’ Choice Awards) called her death “heartbreaking” in a Wednesday statement to Us, adding, “I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”

Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick wrote that he was “so sad” about Trachtenberg’s death in a Wednesday Instagram Story post, while Kim Cattrall shared a photo of herself and Trachtenberg from the movie Ice Princess via Instagram. “Rest in peace sweet Michelle ,” she captioned the snap.

Drake has postponed his remaining Australia and New Zealand tour dates due to “a scheduling conflict.”

“We are actively working on rescheduling these dates along with adding some additional shows,” Drake’s rep said in a statement to Rolling Stone AU/NZ. “All tickets for the affected shows will remain valid for the new dates. Refunds will be available for those who prefer, but please note that as these shows are sold out, any refunded tickets will be released for sale.”

The statement continued, “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Drake and the entire team have had an incredible time doing these shows and are excited to return soon. We look forward to sharing the rescheduled dates with you as soon as possible.”

Drake’s Anita Max Win Tour kicked off earlier this month in Perth, Australia, and was slated to have 16 shows across the country and in New Zealand. The concert was scheduled to have shows on Tuesday, March 4, in Brisbane and on Friday, March 7, in Sydney as well as on Saturday, March 15, and Sunday, March 16, at Auckland’s Spark Arena.

Drake Denies Trying to Stop Kendrick From Doing 'Not Like Us' at Super Bowl

The tour collided with the release of Drake’s latest album, Some Sexy Songs 4 U, a collaboration with PartyNextDoor. The album, which was released on February 14, debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

Drake, 38, has continued to make headlines for his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar, which came to a head during the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show. In the performance, Lamar, 37, performed his diss track “Not Like Us” — which allegedly accused Drake of pedophilia in lines like, “Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young” and “Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor.” Drake denied the pedophilia accusations in “The Heart Part 6.”

Before the Super Bowl, reports suggested that Drake sent Lamar a cease-and-desist to stop him from performing “Not Like Us” on football’s biggest night. A rep for Drake, however, denied it, telling Us Weekly in October 2024, “The rumors are completely false.”

Kendrick Lamar Performs Drake Diss Track ‘Not Like Us’ at 2025 Super Bowl

One month later, Drake filed a legal complaint claiming that Lamar (and his own) record label, Universal Music Group, conspired with Spotify to artificially inflate the popularity of “Not Like Us.” UMG and Spotify denied the accusations.

While Drake withdrew the complaint, he filed a federal lawsuit against UMG in January and accused the label of defamation and harassment. UMG continued to deny the allegations.

After the halftime show, Drake has seemingly moved on from his beef with Lamar. In the song “Brian Steel,” Drake joked that he’s “vegan now” after an earlier line asked for “all the beef on the side.”

Kim Cattrall paid tribute to Michelle Trachtenberg following her death at age 39.

“Rest in peace sweet Michelle ,” Cattrall, 68, wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, February 26, alongside a photo of her and Trachtenberg from their film Ice Princess.

Ice Princess was one of Trachtenberg’s most notable roles alongside Harriet the Spy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gossip Girl and more. Trachtenberg starred in the 2005 figure skating movie alongside Cattrall, Hayden Panettiere and Joan Cusack.

Trachtenberg played science whiz Casey Carlyle who decides to combine her knowledge of physics and her childhood hobby of ice skating for a project that could earn her a scholarship for Harvard. As Casey improves her skating abilities, she captures the attention of Tina Harwood (Cattrall) who is a former skater turned coach.

Stars React to Michelle Trachtenberg’s Death at Age 39

On Wednesday, Us Weekly confirmed that Trachtenberg died. Police sources told Us that the actress was found unconscious inside her apartment in New York City. According to the authorities, Trachtenberg’s cause of death is “not yet apparent” and not believed to be suspicious. ABC News later reported that Trachtenberg’s mother discovered the actress’ body.

After Trachtenberg’s passing made headlines, her rep confirmed the news.

“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” the rep told Us in a statement. “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”

While no details have been confirmed about Trachtenberg’s death, multiple sources told Us that she underwent a liver transplant.

Cattrall wasn’t the only one of Trachtenberg’s former costars and colleagues to honor her legacy. Rosie O’Donnell, who starred alongside Trachtenberg in her film debut, paid her respects to her late Harriet the Spy costar.

“Heartbreaking. I loved her very much,” O’Donnell said of Trachtenberg in a statement to Us. “She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”

Michelle Trachtenberg Through the Years: Her Life and Career in Photos

O’Donnell was seemingly referring to the fan speculation that Trachtenberg was not doing well last year. In January 2024, Trachtenberg shared a snap of her and friend Alexa PenaVega on social media. Some fans raised their concerns for Trachtenberg’s wellbeing in the comments section. One user claimed that Trachtenberg looked sick, which she clapped back at.

“Explain to me how I look sick,” Trachtenberg responded in a January 2024 post. “Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14. I’m 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment.”

Trachtenberg later posted a selfie and further addressed the comments about how she looked.

“I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance,” she wrote at the time. “I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.”

Mica Miller’s death in April last year captivated the nation, with many questioning the official ruling of suicide in the case

Republican lawmakers pressing the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the release of classified documents and records related to Jeffrey Epstein and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, among other federal secrets, received a response, though it fell a bit flat.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month calling on agencies to create plans to release and distribute top-secret documents, including those pertaining to the assassinations of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., is leading the House Oversight Committee’s Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, and, after sending letters to the DOJ Feb. 11 and Feb. 19, finally heard back.

"My office just received a formal response from the DOJ on the Jeffrey Epstein, JFK, MLK, & RFK files," Luna wrote in a post on X, attaching a copy of the letter.

GOPERS PRESS FOR THE RELEASE OF JFK, EPSTEIN FILES: HERE'S WHY THEY'RE NOT OUT

In the letter, the DOJ thanked Luna for the two letters, in which she requested briefings and any documents in the department’s possession relating to the classified investigations.

The DOJ also acknowledged Luna’s request for written confirmation of the date and location of the release of those records.

"The integrity of criminal investigations and prosecutions is essential to every component of the Department’s mission to uphold the rule of law, keep our nation safe, and protect civil rights," Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Patrick D. Davis wrote. 

"The Department remains committed to meeting its legal recordkeeping obligations as it pursues that mission. We are reviewing your requests and look forward to engaging further to accommodate your oversight and legislative needs.

"We hope this information is helpful," Davis added. "Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter."

ANNA PAULINA LUNA TO LEAD TASK FORCE ON DECLASSIFICATION OF JFK ASSASSINATION RECORDS, EPSTEIN CLIENT LIST

The response came two days after Luna said she had faced silence from the DOJ.

"On Feb 11 & Feb 19, house oversight sent a letter to the DOJ asking for status on releasing the Epstein files as well as JFK etc.," Luna said in a post on X Monday. "The DOJ has not responded. Reaching out on X because we can’t seem to get a response from the AG. @AGPamBondi what is the status of the documents? These documents were ordered to be declassified."

Luna also sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Attorney General Pam Bondi, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and White House Counsel David Warrington requesting a briefing by Thursday on plans for the release of the documents.

TRUMP SIGNS ORDER TO DECLASSIFY FILES ON JFK, RFK AND MLK ASSASSINATIONS

Bondi was a guest on "Jesse Watters Primetime" Wednesday and said her office plans to release information about Epstein tomorrow.

She told Watters there are over 250 alleged victims, and her office needs to ensure all of their identities are protected.

"What you’re going to see, hopefully tomorrow, is a lot of flight logs, a lot of names, a lot of information," Bondi said when asked about the type of information that will be released Thursday. "But, it’s pretty sick what that man did, along with his co-defendant."

Trump’s executive order instructed the Department of Justice to coordinate with Gabbard, Waltz and Warrington to establish a plan by Feb. 7 for the release of the JFK files and to create a plan for the release of the MLK and Robert F. Kennedy files by March 9. 

Additionally, Luna is pushing the Justice Department to share details regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s client list. The American financier died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Bondi said Friday that Epstein’s client list was awaiting review and that she was looking over the Kennedy and King files. 

Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy and Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.

A U.S. soldier who recently pleaded guilty to hacking AT&T and Verizon communicated with an email address that he believed belonged to a foreign country’s military intelligence service and attempted to sell the service stolen data, according to newly filed court records reviewed by 404 Media. The court document also says that the soldier searched for “U.S. military personnel defecting to Russia.”

The court filing in the case of Cameron John Wagenius, who used the handles kiberphant0m and cyb3rph4nt0m, discusses Wagenius’ unlawful posting and transferring of confidential phone records, including records belonging to high-ranking public officials. 404 Media previously revealed how hackers linked to the AT&T breach mined it for records associated with members of the Trump family, such as Melania and Ivanka Trump, Kamala Harris, and Marco Rubio’s wife. The court document does not say what specific data Wagenius tried to sell to the foreign intelligence service, or who that data belonged to.

The news further stresses the catastrophic nature of the AT&T breach and its national security implications, which saw hackers make off with “nearly all” of AT&T’s customers’ calls and text metadata records across a several month period. The news also signifies how some participants in the Com, a nebulous community of mostly English speaking hackers, fraudsters, and violent criminals that coalesce on Telegram and Discord, and which Wagenius was associated with, are crossing paths with powerful international entities. 404 Media previously reported SIM swappers in the Com have worked with an Eastern European ransomware gang.

“As discussed in the government’s sealed filing, the government has uncovered evidence suggesting that the charged conduct was only a small part of Wagenius’ malicious activity,” the court record, filed on Wednesday, reads. “For more than two weeks in November 2024, Wagenius communicated with an email address he believed belonged to Country-1’s military intelligence service in an attempt to sell stolen information. Days after he apparently finished communicating with Country-1’s military intelligence service, Wagenius Googled, ‘can hacking be treason,’” the document continues.

That section does not name the specific country. But a further section says that Wagenius searched for “U.S. military personnel defecting to Russia.” It then says “He also searched for information about defecting to Country-1, the country to which he attempted to sell stolen information in November,” suggesting that Country-1 is Russia.

A footnote in the document says that the U.S. government has not verified whether the email address actually belongs to Country-1’s military intelligence service. “What is significant, however, is that Wagenius believed that it did,” the document says.

AT&T did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• An unvaccinated child in Texas died from measles, with statewide vaccination rates trending down.
• Texas faces a measles outbreak with 124 cases, mostly among unvaccinated children.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine critic, is the new US Health Secretary amid the outbreak.

A child in West Texas has died from measles, marking the first reported fatality from the disease in the US in nearly a decade, state health officials announced on Wednesday.

The "school-aged child" who was unvaccinated died at a children's hospital in Lubbock after being hospitalized last week and testing positive for measles, according to a press release from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The death comes as Texas battles a growing measles outbreak that has surged from a handful of cases to at least 124 infections since early February, mostly among children, state health officials said. At least 18 people have been hospitalized so far, most of whom are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Another nine cases have been confirmed in eastern New Mexico close to its border with Texas, bringing the total to more than 130 across the two states, per Texas DSHS.

Measles, a highly contagious airborne virus, has a fatality rate of one to three deaths per 1,000 reported cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Lara Anton, senior press officer of the Texas Department of State Health Services, told Business Insider that it is very difficult to stop the spread of measles. Not only does an unvaccinated person have a 90 percent chance of being infected if exposed, an infected person can be contagious without knowing it for up to four days, Anton said.

"When people register their children for school in kindergarten through seventh grade, they provide updates to us and the school districts on the vaccination coverage in their district," Anton said. "Generally the coverage level statewide has dipped down in recent years."

Measles death is uncommon. The last reported measles death of an adult in the US occurred in 2015 when a Washington woman contracted it at a health clinic, CDC data shows. Anton said a child also died of measles in Texas in 2018.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine critic, was confirmed as US Health Secretary this month despite opposition from medical professionals and some members of Congress. He has, however, pledged to maintain existing vaccination programs.

"We are following the measles epidemic every day," Kennedy said during a meeting with President Donald Trump's cabinet at the White House. "Incidentally, there have been four measles outbreaks this year. In this country last year there were 16. So, it's not unusual. We have measles outbreaks every year."

He also mentioned that two people had died in the outbreak, but the Texas DSHS was only able to confirm one death so far.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

• Trump fired General Charles Q. Brown Jr. and nominated Lt. Gen. Dan Caine as Joint Chiefs chairman.
• Caine's background includes combat experience, entrepreneurship, and roles in national security.
• Experts say Caine may be missing important qualifications compared to past picks for chairman.

President Donald Trump has announced his intention to nominate venture capitalist and retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan "Razin" Caine as the new Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, after firing General Charles Q. Brown Jr. from the job Friday night.

While Trump praised Caine as a "national security expert" and "warfighter," he would be an unusual choice for the country's highest-ranking military leader.

The former fighter pilot is "a serial entrepreneur and investor," according to his military biography. He is now listed as a partner at Shield Capital, a venture capital firm.

Dan Caine and Shield Capital did not respond to requests for comment.

Donald F. Kettl, an emeritus professor and former dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, told Business Insider that it was unusual for a president to appoint a retired general to head the joint chiefs, especially one with less experience.

"Experience plus trust are the keys," Kettl said. "A gap in either can create problems in shaping policy and in leading the armed services."

General Brown had previously served as Commander of Pacific Air Forces, US Air Forces Central Command, and as Chief of Staff of the Air Force, with more than 3,100 flight hours as a command pilot. The four-star general and former fighter pilot was also the first African American to lead a branch of the US Armed Forces.

Mark Cancian, a retired colonel and senior adviser with the CSIS Defense and Security Department, said Caine may be missing important qualifications: he was a three star general and did not serve at the highest levels before retiring, unlike Brown who was Chief of Staff of the Air Force before being promoted to Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff. However, based on regulations, Caine could still hold this position legally if the president signs a waiver.

"It's not like Caine is a junior person, but that step to four star is a big one," said Cancian, "He will need to get up to speed and change his perspective from what it had been before, which was more Air Force focused, and that will be an extra challenge though not impossible."

Cancian said the only time he could think someone coming out of retirement to be appointed chairman of Joint Chiefs would be when John F. Kennedy appointed General Maxwell Taylor to the position in 1962. Maxwell, however, was already a four-star general, and his predecessor was not fired.

"The US military is ultimately under civilian control and the President is commander in chief of the military," said Jonathan Adler, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, "So while it is not common to fire the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the president has that authority."

Who is Dan Caine?

Caine graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1990 with a degree in economics and later earned a master’s in air warfare from the American Military University.

He would go on to log over 2,800 hours flying the F-16 fighter jet, including over 150 combat hours, and later served as an associate director for military affairs at the CIA.

Trump has long expressed admiration for Caine. In a 2019 speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference, he recalled meeting Caine in Iraq, when Caine told him that the Islamic State group could be destroyed in as little as a week instead of years.

"'We're only hitting them from a temporary base in Syria,'" Trump said Caine told him. '"But if you gave us permission, we could hit them from the back, from the side, from all over — from the base that you're right on, right now, sir. They won't know what the hell hit them.'"

"General 'Razin' Caine was — he's some general. He's a real general, not a television general," Trump added at an appearance in Miami last Wednesday, where he criticized the current military leadership.

Announcing his nomination on Truth Social, Trump described Caine as "an accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a 'warfighter' with significant interagency and special operations experience." Trump also credited Caine for the "complete annihilation" of ISIS during his first term.

Shield Capital announced in January that Caine had joined its team as a "venture partner."

In a press release at the time, the tech-focused firm described Caine as a "distinguished leader" who would bring both military and entrepreneurial experience to the position.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Caine has held a number of private sector roles, including cofounding Texas-based private airline RISE Air.