While signing executive orders in the Oval Office on Thursday, President Donald Trump promised to return two NASA astronauts who had been in space for more than eight months.
The president said, ” Elon Musk was preparing to send a ship up there and grab them,” he told Fox News’ senior White House Correspondent Peter Doocy. We love you and are coming to you. You shouldn’t be up there for so long.”
Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams and their Boeing Starliner spacecraft were stuck at the International Space Station due to technical problems.
The mission was scheduled to end in eight days, beginning on June 5, 2024.
NASA determined that it was unsafe for the astronauts to return to Earth due to the numerous problems with the spacecraft. It returned to the planet unmanned.
The New York Post reports that one of the astronauts confirmed recently that former President Joe Biden refused to accept an offer of assistance from Musk, SpaceX’s CEO.
Trump said on Thursday that Biden had “left them alone in space” because he felt “embarrassed at what happened”.
The president continued: “The incompetent leader in history allowed it to happen, but this one won’t allow that.”
NASA announced that SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will launch Wednesday, heading to the station. After a few days of handover, Wilmore and Williams are expected to return to Earth with Wilmore.
Trump joked later with Doocy that he was going to be part of the mission.
“Should I go on that journey just to be on the ship when we stop?” the president asked Doocy.
Trump later joked with Doocy about partaking in the mission.
“I should do it,” Trump replied with a laugh. “That’s terrible. I thought he liked me.”
Trump replied, “She prefers me more.” Another reporter also chimed in, saying that the president should remain on Earth.