Trump Urges Elon Musk to Rescue NASA Astronauts Stranded in Space
In late January 2025, former President Donald Trump made headlines by urging Elon Musk’s SpaceX to rescue two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, who were reportedly stranded on the International Space Station (ISS). Trump claimed the astronauts had been “virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration,” calling on Musk to intervene and bring them home swiftly.
Elon Musk responded positively, stating that SpaceX would undertake the mission to retrieve the astronauts “as soon as possible.” He criticized the current administration, saying it was “terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.”
However, NASA quickly refuted these claims. The agency clarified that the astronauts were not stranded but were on an extended mission. Williams and Wilmore had traveled to the ISS in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner for an eight-day test mission. Technical issues with the Starliner delayed its return, and as a result, the astronauts’ stay on the ISS was extended. NASA confirmed that their return was already scheduled via SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule by the end of March 2025.
A NASA spokesperson emphasized that the astronauts are safe and continuing their scientific work aboard the ISS. The agency highlighted that mission extensions, while uncommon, are not unusual in the realm of space exploration and that safety protocols remain a top priority.
This incident underscores the complexities of space missions and the challenges of balancing technical issues with public perception. While Trump and Musk’s involvement brought heightened attention to the situation, NASA’s plans and protocols remain in place to ensure the astronauts’ safe return.
