President Donald Trump engaged in a conversation with American astronauts aboard the International Space Station on Friday. He made the call from Houston after commending the Artemis II crew. During his interaction, Trump humorously remarked that many Americans might wish to travel to space, although he personally wouldn’t pursue such an adventure.
“I wouldn’t do it,” Trump stated from NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “I hate to admit it. I would not want to do it. But some people love it more than anything.”
Trump conversed with the astronauts at Johnson Space Center’s Mission Control Center. They expressed excitement at speaking with him, noting they were amidst several spacewalks, with another scheduled for the upcoming week.
The President praised the astronauts as “pioneers” in space exploration, recognizing their significant contributions. He also suggested other officials communicate with the ISS crew and extended an invitation for the astronauts to visit the White House upon their return.
Wearing a flight jacket gifted by the Artemis II crew, Trump acknowledged Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Jeremy Hansen after they received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. This event occurred at Johnson Space Center on August 28, 2026.
Trump remarked, “We’re going to see you when you get back. In fact, if you want Oval Office time, right?”
Prior to the call, Trump had honored the Artemis II crew, bestowing the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and signing an executive order to establish the U.S. Space Force Academy. He compared its level of prestige to other U.S. military academies such as West Point and Annapolis.
He emphasized that the academy would be held in high regard, on par with existing prestigious institutions. Kevin Hassett, National Economic Council Director, alongside NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, attended the ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The event underscored Trump’s commitment to advancing the status of space exploration.