US President Donald Trump has taken aim at his predecessor, Joe Biden, over the prolonged stay of two American astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), vowing to bring them back. NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stranded in space for over nine months, far exceeding their originally planned eight-day mission.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Donald Trump, 78, expressed frustration over the situation and claimed that he had asked SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to step in and facilitate their return. “We have two astronauts that are stuck in space. I asked Elon, ‘Can you get them out?’ He said, ‘Yes,’ and now he’s preparing a ship to go up and get them,” Donald Trump said.
He further accused Joe Biden of negligence, stating, “Joe Biden left them up there. He allowed that to happen, but this president won’t let it happen. We love you, and we’re coming up to get you.” Donald Trump also highlighted the risks associated with prolonged space missions and emphasized the urgency of bringing the astronauts home.
During his remarks, Donald Trump made a comment about Sunita Williams, particularly about her hair in zero gravity. “And I see the woman with the wild hair—solid head of hair she’s got. No kidding, no games with her hair,” he said.
The astronauts’ extended stay has been attributed to technical malfunctions in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, including helium leaks and thruster issues, making their return unsafe. Since launching in June 2024, Wilmore and Sunita Williams have remained on the ISS while NASA and Boeing work on solutions to bring them home.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk also weighed in on the matter, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that the astronauts’ return was delayed due to the Joe Biden administration’s reluctance. “SpaceX could have sent up another Dragon and brought them home six months ago, but the Joe Biden White House (not NASA) refused to allow it. President Donald Trump asked to bring them back as soon as possible, and we are doing so,” Elon Musk claimed.
Donald Trump, known for his bold statements, even joked about personally joining the mission. “Should I go on that journey, just to be on the ship?” he said, prompting laughter from reporters.
Sunita Williams, 59, is a veteran astronaut with multiple space missions to her name. She holds the record for the longest total spacewalking time by a woman, clocking 62 hours and 6 minutes. She has also achieved a unique feat—becoming the first person to complete a triathlon in space during her 2012 ISS mission.
