Did the Biden administration stop Elon Musk from rescuing astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore? The SpaceX CEO says yes—and one astronaut agrees the offer was real.On The Joe Rogan Experience (February 28, 2025), Musk claimed SpaceX offered to bring the astronauts back early from the International Space Station (ISS), but the Biden administration rejected it “for political reasons.”
He alleged the decision avoided boosting Donald Trump—his ally—during Kamala Harris’s campaign, delaying their return past Trump’s January 20, 2025, inauguration. “We offered to bring them back early; this offer was rejected,” Musk said.Astronaut Barry Wilmore, stranded on the ISS since June 2024, backed Musk’s account. Speaking March 4, he said, “What Mr. Musk says is absolutely factual,” confirming an offer was made and denied.
But he added, “We have no information on what was offered, who it was offered to, or how that process went.” Wilmore didn’t address political motives, leaving that part unconfirmed.Williams and Wilmore launched on Boeing’s Starliner for an eight-day mission, but thruster failures and leaks forced NASA to extend their stay. In August 2024, NASA opted for a SpaceX Crew Dragon rescue, scheduling their return for late March 2025—nine months total. NASA insists the delay stems from safety concerns, not politics.
Former Administrator Bill Nelson said in August, “Politics has not played any part in this decision.”Musk’s timeline suggests SpaceX could’ve acted by September 2024, when Crew-9 launched with two empty seats for the astronauts. If an earlier offer existed, its rejection could point to logistics—or something more. With Trump’s win on November 5, 2024, and Musk’s $288 million in support, political tension isn’t far-fetched.
Yet no hard evidence ties Biden directly to a block.The astronauts downplay the drama. “We don’t feel stranded,” Williams told CNN on February 14. For now, Starliner’s woes explain their plight—whether politics sealed their fate remains a question mark.
