U.S. President Donald Trump praised the Artemis astronauts for their ongoing lunar mission, calling their achievement a defining moment in space exploration.
During a call on April 6, 2026, Mr. Trump congratulated the crew circling the Moon, saying, “You’ve made all America really proud, incredibly proud.” He described them as “modern-day pioneers” and commended their courage.
“You really are modern-day pioneers — all of you,” he said, adding, “You’ve got a lot of courage doing what you’re doing.”
The mission marks NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. Mr. Trump emphasised the significance of the milestone, stating, “America will be second to none in space and everything we’re doing, and we will continue to lead the whole thing into the stars, this incredible journey into the stars.”
During the interaction, the President engaged in a brief question-and-answer session with the astronauts. He asked about their experience on the Moon’s far side and how it felt to be temporarily out of communication with Earth.
“I said a little prayer, but then I had to keep rolling,” Artemis pilot Victor Glover responded. “I was actually recording scientific observations of the far side of the Moon.”
Mr. Trump also mentioned speaking with Canada’s leadership and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky about the country’s participation in the mission.
Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen thanked the U.S. for its leadership in space exploration. He described the collaboration as a “mutually beneficial goal.”
“A nation that leads like (the US) and creates and sets big goals for humanity that brings other countries along with it, is truly incredible,” Hansen said. “Canadians are so proud to be a part of this program.”
The President concluded the call by inviting the astronauts to the White House, saying, “Congratulations to everybody. I’ll see you at the Oval Office.”
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