US President Donald Trump told the Artemis II crew during a phone call from the Moon on Monday that he had saved Nasa from closure, despite his administration's repeated attempts to slash the agency's budget. The 12-minute call, facilitated by Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman, came hours after the astronauts set a record for the farthest distance travelled from Earth by humans.
Trump claimed that during his first term he faced a decision to either revive Nasa or close it down, adding that he had 'very little hesitation' in choosing to revive it. However, since his second term began in early 2025, the White House has proposed a 24% cut to Nasa's budget, reducing it to $18.8bn—the lowest in a decade. Congress opposed the cuts and passed a nearly fully funded budget of $24.4bn in January.
On 3 April, two days after Artemis II launched, Trump unveiled a further 23% reduction for the 2027 budget. Democrats have vowed to fight the 'morally bankrupt' move, while Isaacman expressed strong support for the president's fiscal policies. The call featured awkward silences and repeated references by Trump to his friendship with Canadian ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen praised the US for allowing Canada to participate, prompting Trump to recount conversations with Gretzky, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and other Canadian friends. After a prolonged silence, Isaacman performed a comms check, and Trump repeated his Gretzky story. Commander Reid Wiseman acknowledged, 'Yes Mr President, we heard that.'
Trump invited the crew to an Oval Office reception after their scheduled splashdown on Friday, saying he would ask for their autographs—a rare honour. He declared that America is 'the hottest country anywhere in the world' and will lead in space exploration.
