"We respect Trump & Musk; glad that they are involved": Astronauts Sunita Williams & Butch Wilmore

NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams have expressed confidence in US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who also heads the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The duo shared their take on Trump and Musk in their first interview after their return to the Earth.

Trust in Leadership: Butch Wilmore

Speaking to Fox News, Barry Wilmore expressed deep admiration for President Trump and Elon Musk, saying, “I respect you. I trust you. You’ve given me no reason not to trust you—either one of you.” He added, “I have no reason to doubt anything they say,” crediting their role in the rescue mission.Wilmore further said that Trump and Musk had earned his trust, and that he was grateful that America's "national leaders were actively taking part in the human spaceflight programme.” The astronaut called it refreshing, adding, "it’s empowering and strengthening for our nation.”

Sunita Williams: A Global Example

Sunita Williams also echoed the sentiments of her co-traveller to the space. She said, “Maybe it wasn’t a perfect situation before, but it allowed a lot of people—including the President and Elon—to look at what’s happening on the International Space Station, take it seriously.”Saying that she valued the involvement of the two leaders, Williams added, “I think it’s a good thing for our country when national leaders, especially in something as high-profile as this, are involved in the process. I’m grateful for that.”Willaims also underlined that the rescue mission that brought her back to the Earth showed that the US had the ability to do the "hard thing". She said, "It sets an example and shows our ability to do hard things: put people in space, operate in space, work in space, and bring them back,” concluding, “It’s important, and I appreciate that they, along with many, many others, have taken notice of it.”

The Return Of The Astronauts

Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams returned to the Earth after an unforeseen 286-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Launched on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing’s Starliner for an eight-day test, thruster issues and helium leaks extended their stay in space. After Starliner returned uncrewed in September 2024, they joined Expedition 71/72, finally splashing down off Florida on March 17, 2025, via SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission.