Former US President Blasts Biden Administration for Extended Astronaut Mission; Elon Musk Steps In
In a dramatic Oval Office address on Thursday, former US President Donald Trump praised NASA astronaut Sunita Williams' distinctive hair and pledged immediate action to rescue her and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, both stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months.
Trump, 78, criticized President Joe Biden sharply, blaming him for the astronauts' prolonged stay in space, originally intended as an eight-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in June 2024. Due to technical malfunctions, including helium leaks and thruster failures, Williams, 59, and Wilmore have remained on the ISS for an extended period.
“Biden left them up there,” Trump remarked during the press gathering. He added with conviction, “We have two astronauts stuck in space. I have asked Elon [Musk], ‘Can you get them out?’ He said ‘Yes.’ He is preparing to go up, I think in two weeks.”
Elon Musk Readies SpaceX Starship for Rescue Mission
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, confirmed Trump's statement, revealing on platform X (formerly Twitter) that a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft could have brought the astronauts home months ago, but the Biden administration declined to authorize the mission.
“SpaceX could have sent up another Dragon and brought them home six months ago, but the Biden White House (not NASA) refused to allow it,” Musk wrote. "President Trump asked to bring them back as soon as possible, and we are doing so."
Trump Praises Astronaut Williams’ Iconic Hair
During his comments, Trump particularly highlighted Williams, an astronaut of Indian origin known for her groundbreaking achievements and signature hairstyle.
"And I see the woman with the wild hair, good, solid head of hair she's got," Trump remarked warmly, referencing Williams' distinctive appearance aboard the ISS. "There's no kidding, there's no games with her hair."
Astronauts Facing Extended Mission Challenges
Sunita Williams recently made headlines by setting a new record in January 2025, accumulating 62 hours and 6 minutes of total spacewalking time—the longest ever recorded by a woman. Alongside Wilmore, she has been navigating the unprecedented challenges of this extended mission since their original return vehicle, Boeing's Starliner, was declared unsafe.
Trump empathized with the astronauts, saying, “We love you, and we're coming up to get you. You shouldn't have been up there so long."
Trump Teases Possibility of Joining SpaceX Rescue Flight
Adding a lighter note, Trump joked with reporters about potentially joining Musk's rescue flight. “Should I go on that journey just to be on the ship?” he said, eliciting laughter in the Oval Office.
The former president reiterated the urgency, emphasizing the potential dangers faced by Williams and Wilmore due to the prolonged duration aboard the ISS. “There's a danger up there. It can have some failures up there. You’ve got to get them out,” Trump stressed.
With SpaceX now preparing a Starship for a swift rescue, the international community watches closely, hopeful for a safe return of the two astronauts who continue to set records even as they await their journey back home.
Last updated by a enewsx: