Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited a political firestorm by blaming the Biden administration for the prolonged stay of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore aboard the International Space Station (ISS), accusing them of being "virtually abandoned" in space. Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he had personally asked tech billionaire Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, to step in and bring the astronauts home. The unexpected move adds yet another layer of political drama to an already complex situation involving NASA, Boeing, and SpaceX.
In his post, Trump emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating that the two astronauts had been waiting in space for "many months" and that it was unacceptable for the Biden administration to have failed to bring them back sooner. "Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon," Trump wrote, positioning himself as an active figure in the mission’s resolution. Musk quickly confirmed the development on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating that Trump had requested SpaceX's help and taking the opportunity to criticize the Biden administration for leaving the astronauts "stranded" in space.
Williams, 59, and Wilmore, 62, were originally launched to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule on June 5, 2024, as part of a highly anticipated test mission. The mission was initially expected to last only 8 to 10 days, but serious technical issues—including thruster malfunctions and multiple helium leaks—compromised the Starliner's ability to safely return to Earth. In response, NASA made the decision to bring the spacecraft back separately for further analysis, leaving the two astronauts aboard the ISS indefinitely. Since then, their return has been repeatedly delayed, turning what was supposed to be a short trip into an extended stay of nearly 10 months.
To address the situation, NASA arranged for a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to bring them home. In September 2024, SpaceX launched a four-seat Crew Dragon capsule to the ISS, but with only two astronauts onboard, leaving two seats vacant specifically for Williams and Wilmore’s return journey. Initially, their return was scheduled for February 2025, but additional delays arose, pushing the timeline further. NASA and SpaceX have since confirmed that their return is now expected in late March, pending final preparations for the Crew-10 mission, which will ferry their replacement crew to the ISS before Williams and Wilmore can be brought back.
The prolonged duration of their mission has raised growing concerns, particularly regarding the astronauts' physical well-being. Space travel has significant effects on the human body, including muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and potential cardiovascular changes due to prolonged exposure to microgravity. Recent images of Williams have led to speculation that she may have lost weight, sparking worries about her health. However, in a November 2024 interview, she addressed the concerns, stating, "I think my body has changed a little bit, but I weigh the same." Despite reassurances from both Williams and NASA, the extended stay in space remains an unusual and challenging situation, especially given that it was never part of the original mission plan.
The controversy surrounding their delayed return has now taken on a political dimension, with Trump using the situation to attack President Joe Biden’s handling of space policy. His intervention, while largely symbolic, highlights the broader tensions between the Republican and Democratic administrations over NASA’s role and funding priorities. Meanwhile, Musk, a known critic of Biden, has also seized the moment to reinforce his longstanding grievances with the current government, further politicizing the issue.
If their return goes ahead as planned in late March, Williams and Wilmore will have spent close to 300 days in space—far exceeding their intended mission duration. The extended stay is reminiscent of long-term missions undertaken by astronauts such as Mark Kelly and Scott Kelly, who participated in NASA’s research on the effects of prolonged spaceflight. However, in this case, the lengthy mission was unplanned, raising questions about Boeing’s reliability in future space operations.
NASA has yet to officially respond to Trump’s comments or Musk’s involvement, but officials have maintained that the astronauts are safe aboard the ISS and that their return timeline is dictated by operational and safety considerations rather than political factors. Regardless, the latest development has added yet another twist to an already complex saga, one that intertwines space exploration, corporate rivalry, and political grandstanding.
