The crew of Artemis II, on a record-breaking journey to the moon, received a call from President Donald Trump on Monday evening during which he claimed to have saved Nasa from closure. The 12-minute conversation, organised by Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman, included awkward silences and repeated references to ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.
Trump told the astronauts he had faced a decision in his first term: revive Nasa or shut it down. 'I had very little hesitation,' he said, despite having repeatedly proposed significant cuts to the agency's budget. In early 2025, his administration suggested a 24% reduction to $18.8bn, which would have been the lowest in a decade, sparking bipartisan opposition from Congress, which passed a $24.4bn budget. Days after Artemis II launched, Trump unveiled a further 23% cut for 2027.
During the call, Trump praised the crew's 'incredible journey' and said America was leading space exploration once again. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen thanked the US for including Canada. Trump responded by mentioning conversations with Gretzky and Canadian leaders, leading to over a minute of silence before Isaacman performed a comms check. Commander Reid Wiseman acknowledged the president's remarks.
Trump invited the crew to an Oval Office reception after their planned splashdown on Friday, asking for their autographs. Democrats have pledged to fight the budget cuts, calling them 'morally bankrupt', while Isaacman urged Nasa workers to focus on the mission.
