Washington, D.C.: In an Oval Office address, US President Donald Trump made a distinctive remark about NASA’s Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, complimenting her hair while discussing efforts to bring her and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore back to Earth.
Trump’s Rescue Mission Proposal
The 78-year-old President pledged to launch a rescue operation for the astronauts, who were originally scheduled for an eight-day mission but have now been stranded in space for nearly eight months. Taking a jab at his predecessor, Trump remarked, “Biden left them up there.”
He further stated that he had sought help from DOGE Chief Elon Musk to assist in their return.
Trump’s Call to Musk for Assistance
“I have asked Elon (Musk), I said, ‘Do me a favor. Can you get them out?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ He’s preparing to go up, I think, in two weeks,” Trump told reporters.
He added that Musk’s company SpaceX was actively preparing a ship for the mission.
A ‘Wild’ Compliment for Williams
During the address, Trump made an unusual remark about Sunita Williams’ hair, saying, “And I see the woman with the wild hair—good solid head of hair she’s got. There’s no kidding, there’s no games with her hair.”
Trump’s Message to the Stranded Astronauts
Trump assured the astronauts that help was on the way, stating:
“We love you, and we’re coming up to get you. You shouldn’t have been up there so long. Biden allowed that to happen, but this president won’t let it happen.”
He further joked about the potential challenges of being stuck in space for months:
“I hope they like each other. Maybe they’ll love each other, I don’t know. But they’ve been left up there. Think of it. There’s danger up there too. Things can fail. That would be very bad. We’ve got to get them out.”
Musk Blames Biden Administration
Responding to Trump’s remarks, Elon Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to blame the Biden administration for the delay in retrieving the astronauts.
“The astronauts were only supposed to be up there for 8 days and now have been there for 8 months.”
Musk further claimed:
“SpaceX could have sent up another Dragon and brought them home 6 months ago, but the Biden White House (not NASA) refused to allow it. President Trump asked to bring them back as soon as possible, and we are doing so.”
Williams and Wilmore’s Prolonged Mission
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore launched in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner for what was initially planned as a short mission to the International Space Station (ISS). However, technical issues—including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions—extended their stay to nearly eight months.
Williams, a veteran astronaut, made history in January 2025 by setting a new record for total spacewalking hours by a woman, logging 62 hours and 6 minutes. She also holds the distinction of being the first person to complete a triathlon in space in 2012.
What’s Next?
Trump has authorized SpaceX to proceed with a rescue mission, reportedly using its Starship vehicle. In a lighthearted moment, Trump even suggested he should be on the mission himself, asking reporters, “Should I go on that journey just to be on the ship?”
With NASA now finalizing plans for their return, Williams and Wilmore are expected back on Earth by March 19, 2025.
