On the hand, I think you're vastly underestimating POTUS' powers.

Those NASA contracts sure looks nice ... it'd be a shame if someone quietly underminded their frequency.

Arguably Musk has donkey's mess all over him right now precisely because of POTUS' stance in ignoring Tesla. Again, arguably, there is a direct line from that all the way to Musk's current petulant child act jumping into bed with the right wing ass kissers. He was (ignoring some warning signs) the golden child (to the majority) before that.

The reputational damage that has been done from that, and Musks counter-actions, is measured in the billions ... arguably trillions over the long term.

And not an edict was even issued.