Donald Trump Seeks Elon Musk’s Help to Bring Sunita Williams Back from ISS

Washington, D.C. – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has urged billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk to expedite the return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS). The two astronauts, who launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in June 2024, have remained aboard the ISS far beyond their originally planned 10-day mission.

Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, revealed on Tuesday that Trump personally reached out to him regarding the astronauts' return. Taking to social media platform X, Musk stated, “The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so.”

He further criticized the previous administration, adding, “Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.”

NASA Denies ‘Stranded’ Claims

Despite Musk’s comments, NASA has repeatedly emphasized that Williams and Wilmore are neither stranded nor in distress. The agency maintains that the astronauts are in good health and high spirits while continuing their work aboard the ISS.

NASA and Boeing initially aimed for a brief Starliner test mission, but unforeseen technical issues forced an extended stay. After weeks of troubleshooting, the agency concluded that the spacecraft was not safe for the crew’s return.

SpaceX Tasked with Astronauts’ Return

In August 2024, NASA officially reassigned Williams and Wilmore to SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, which was scheduled to bring them back in early 2025. To accommodate them, two of the four planned Crew-9 astronauts were reassigned, allowing space for the Boeing astronauts. However, additional delays arose when SpaceX needed more time to prepare its latest Dragon spacecraft.

As a result, their return was pushed to late March, following the arrival of Crew-10 at the ISS. But Musk’s latest statement suggests a possible expedited timeline, with the Crew Dragon capsule ‘Freedom’ potentially making an early departure with Williams and Wilmore aboard.

Political and Public Pressure Mounts

The astronauts’ prolonged stay has sparked debate, with Trump’s intervention adding a political dimension to the situation. His comments reflect ongoing criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of space missions, even as NASA maintains that safety and operational efficiency remain its top priorities.

While an official update on the new return date is awaited, Musk’s statement has reignited discussions on the mission’s prolonged delays. SpaceX’s involvement is expected to bring a swift resolution, ensuring the astronauts’ safe return after an unexpectedly long mission in orbit.