President Trump says he will pay for two NASA astronauts out of his own pocket

US President Donald Trump says he will personally pay overtime for two NASA astronauts who were stranded on the ISS and have just returned to Earth.

NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams returned to Earth this week after nine months stuck on the International Space Station (ISS). President Trump said on March 21 that he could pay the two astronauts overtime, according to Fox News.

"Nobody mentioned it to me. If I had to, I would pay for it out of my own pocket," President Trump said.

Two astronauts were greeted by dolphins when they returned after nine months stuck at the ISS space station.

Mr. Wilmore and Ms. Williams arrived at the ISS in June 2024 for a mission that lasted just eight days. However, their spacecraft suffered a malfunction and was only brought back by SpaceX’s Crew Dragon this week, 286 days after their launch.

When asked by a reporter that Mr. Wilmore and Ms. Williams would receive $5 for each day of overtime in space, equivalent to $1,430 each, President Trump said: "That's it? That's not too much for what they've been through." The White House owner said that the human body will begin to weaken after a few months in space.

President Trump at the White House on March 21

On the other hand, Mr. Trump thanked billionaire Elon Musk, the boss of SpaceX and the president's advisor in charge of the Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE). "Think what would happen if we didn't have him. If we didn't have Elon, they could be there for a long time. Who else would take them home?", Mr. Trump said.

Previously, Mr. Trump accused his predecessor Joe Biden of "abandoning" two astronauts on the ISS for political reasons, but did not provide evidence.

NASA ISS commander Joel Montalbano said the agency acted at President Trump's request by moving forward with the replacement mission. Mr. Trump said Mr. Wilmore and Ms. Williams would visit the White House after they recover.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tong-thong-trump-noi-se-lay-tien-tui-tra-cho-hai-phi-hanh-gia-nasa-185250322171025041.htm