NASA Credits Trump With Bringing Stranded Astronauts Home: ‘Would Not Have Happened’

NASA officials are attributing the safe return of two American astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) to former President Donald Trump’s leadership. Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams were stranded in space for over nine months before being brought back to Earth on March 18. The rescue mission has been praised as a significant achievement for the Trump administration and its renewed emphasis on space exploration.  

NASA spokeswoman Bethany Stevens emphasized that the mission would not have been possible without Trump’s direct involvement, describing it as a “major victory” for his administration. She highlighted his leadership in ensuring the astronauts were not left stranded in orbit.

“This is a major victory for the Trump administration, and it would not have been possible without President Trump’s direct involvement,” NASA spokeswoman Bethany Stevens told *Fox News.* “The next priority in advancing President Trump’s ambitious space agenda, as outlined in his inaugural address, is confirming his nominee for NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman.”  

The astronauts’ extended stay aboard the ISS was due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which experienced helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, rendering it unsafe for their return. As a result, NASA ultimately chose SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule to carry out the rescue mission.

Trump claimed he played a key role in expediting the astronauts’ return, stating that he directed SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to prioritize the mission, which he argued had been overlooked by the Biden administration. The prolonged stay of Wilmore and Williams became a political controversy, with Trump accusing the previous administration of delaying action to avoid embarrassment over the Starliner spacecraft’s failures.  

Following their safe return, Trump pledged to honor the astronauts, announcing plans to host them at the White House once they have fully recovered. He also drew attention to the financial sacrifices astronauts make, promising to personally cover their additional compensation, as they receive only a $5 daily incidental allowance for extended missions.

Stevens, meanwhile, emphasized that Trump’s NASA administrator nominee, Jared Isaacman, is well-suited to advance the administration’s ambitious space exploration agenda.  

“President Trump was once seen as an outsider, yet the American people have returned him to office, showing their appreciation for the business acumen he brings,” Stevens said. “Mr. Isaacman shares that background as a highly successful entrepreneur, making him the right choice to lead NASA forward.”

Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and seasoned astronaut, made history as the first civilian to conduct a human spacewalk. He is also widely recognized for his philanthropic efforts, particularly his support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. According to Stevens, his appointment as NASA administrator would be in line with Trump’s vision of prioritizing American leadership in space exploration.

Stevens added that she believes governors recognize the November election results as a clear mandate from the American people for change. “President Trump has been driving that change from day one,” she said.

“The next priority is to confirm Jared Isaacman without delay so we can begin executing the president’s ambitious space agenda, as he outlined in his inaugural address,” Stevens stated.

Trump’s space policy focuses on pushing human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit, with a renewed commitment to lunar missions and the long-term objective of reaching Mars. Stevens emphasized the urgency of moving forward with these plans.

“We were set to go to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, and now we have less than four years to accomplish this ambitious agenda,” Stevens said. “To make that happen, we need to implement President Trump’s leadership at NASA and get the ball rolling. This is the next step in making America First in Space.”