US President Donald Trump met NASA's Artemis II astronauts at the White House on Wednesday, hosting the crew shortly after their historic 10-day mission around the Moon. The crew included astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, all of whom attended the White House event.
During the interaction, Trump made a light-hearted remark about space travel, asking, "Is a president allowed to go on a space mission?" NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who was also present, responded, "We can get working on it, Mr. President."
The astronauts had recently completed the Artemis II mission, the first crewed journey around the Moon in more than 50 years. This mission marks a key step in the US space agency's broader plan to return humans to the lunar surface and prepare for future Mars missions.
During the interaction, Trump expressed confidence that NASA had a strong chance of achieving a Moon landing during his current term, which ends in 2029. "Oh, we have a shot at it," he said. He added, "I mean, we don't like to say 'definitely,' because then you say, 'oh, we failed.' But I think we have a good shot."
The Artemis program aims to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon, with the United States targeting a crewed lunar landing in 2028. The Artemis II mission tested critical systems including life support, navigation, and radiation shielding, providing key data for future deep space missions.
The White House event highlighted the administration's support for space exploration and the achievements of the Artemis program. The astronauts' successful mission has reinvigorated public interest in lunar exploration and the potential for human missions to Mars.
