Trump calls the Artemis crew

[0:00] special hello to Artemis II. Today you've made history and made all America really proud, [0:07] incredibly proud. We have a lot of things to be proud of lately, but this is, there's nothing [0:11] like what you're doing circling around the moon for the first time in more than a half a century [0:16] and breaking the all-time record for the farthest distance from planet Earth. Humans have really [0:23] never seen anything quite like what you're doing in a manned spacecraft. It's really special. I [0:29] want to personally salute and congratulate Commander Reed Weissman, Pilot Victor Glover, [0:36] Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, and I also want to thank the entire [0:42] amazing team at NASA, headed by Jared, who's a very special guy, by the way, and you all made [0:50] this day possible. You've really inspired the entire world, really. Everybody's watching. I [0:56] find it incredible. I just watch you go to the back of the moon and [1:00] you're the one who's doing it. I just want to thank you. [1:00] People haven't been there in a long time, we can say, but it's going to be more and more prevalent [1:04] because we're going to be doing a lot of, a lot of traveling. And then you're going to ultimately do [1:09] the whole big trip to Mars, and that's going to be very exciting. So you look at, we had no astronaut [1:15] has been to the moon since the days of Apollo program. The Apollo program was also very special, [1:22] but that was 50 years ago. And at long last, America is back and America is back in many [1:29] ways stronger than ever before with a hot environment. And I think that's going to be [1:31] paramount to this country, anywhere in the world. The Artemis crew flew and the most powerful [1:36] rocket NASA has ever made, ever launched, traveled over a quarter of a million miles, broke [1:41] the distance record set by the legendary Apollo 13. And America is a frontier nation, and the [1:48] four brave astronauts of Artemis two are a modern day. You really are modern day pioneers, all [1:56] of you. And one of them happens to be a neighbor. You know that is right? You have a special [2:00] person over there, a neighbor,été [2:02] and we like our neighbor. Your mission paves the way for America's return to the lunar surface [2:09] very soon. We're going all out. We're doing everything we can, and it's set it up by Jared. [2:15] We'll plant our flag once again, and this time we won't just leave footprints. We'll establish a [2:21] permanent presence on the moon, and we'll push on to Mars. That'll be very exciting. I'm waiting [2:27] for that so much. I'd love to be here, but maybe we won't quite make it in terms of timing. [2:33] But we will be up in the moon, and that's going to happen soon. So America will be second to none [2:39] in space and everything else that we're doing, and we will continue to lead the whole thing into [2:46] the stars, this incredible journey into the stars. So I just wanted an honor to speak to you, and I [2:52] wanted to congratulate each and every one of you, and tell me what is the most unforgettable part of [2:58] this really historic day the whole world is watching and listening. [3:03] Please tell me. [3:04] President, this call is certainly special to all of us, and we really have a lot of faith in our administrator, Jared [3:17] Isaacman, who is with you. We appreciate his leadership in NASA and in the international community. We are doing [3:22] great things, and we are proud to be a part of it. I have to tell you, as we came around the near side of the moon, [3:29] seeing all the sights that we've seen from Earth for all of our lives, but we're seeing them from a different [3:34] perspective, and then we started to get a glimpse of them, and we saw sights, oriental sights that no human has ever [3:41] seen before, not even in Apollo. [3:42] And that was amazing for us. And then the surprise of the day, we just came out of an eclipse where the sun, moon, and the entire dark [3:51] moon, about that big, right out the window that we were watching, we could see the corona of the sun, and then we could see the [3:58] planet train line up, and we're at Mars, and all of us commented how excited we are to watch this nation and this planet become a two [4:06] planet species. [4:07] That is fantastic. You know, I had a decision to make in my first term, and the decision is, [4:16] what are we going to do at NASA? Are we going to have it be revived, or are we going to close it down? And I had very little [4:24] hesitation, and it's really great to have somebody like Jared involved, because he really makes it much easier for me, but it was not [4:31] even a question in my own mind. We just, we've spent what we had to do, and then, of course, we have Space Force, and Space Force is [4:40] very much related to what you're doing, and that was my baby. That was a very important one, and it's turning out to be a very [4:47] important decision I've ever made, so we're very proud of Space Force, and we're very proud of all of you. Does anybody else have [4:57] anything to say? A lot of people listening. [4:59] Mr. President, to be here with you, speaking about our incredible day today, I think one of the biggest highlights was coming back from the [5:16] far side of the moon and having the first glimpses of planet Earth again, after being out of communication for about 45 minutes. It really [5:24] just reminds you what a special place we have, and how important it is for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to [5:26] be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really [5:27] important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. And I think [6:07] of the far side of the moon, you know, that is actually the time when we were the farthest [6:11] and the closest to the moon. And so we were really able to make some of our most detailed [6:16] observations of the far side of the moon up close. And so we were busy up here working [6:21] really hard. And I must say, it was actually quite nice. Did you see a difference, a big [6:27] difference between the far side of the moon and the near side of the moon? Was there [6:31] a difference in feel or difference in look? What did you see? Well, Mr. President, we certainly did. [6:45] And our science team really set us up well to understand what they thought we might see. [6:51] And the gravitational pull of the Earth has had a profound effect on the near side of the moon, [6:57] changing all those dark maoris, those dark patches of the moon you see from Earth. [7:01] It's very different on the far side. While you see some small patches of those maori [7:06] in deep craters, it's very much absent on that side. So that's really neat. [7:10] And while I have the microphone, sir, I just want to thank you on behalf of Canada, [7:15] the Space [7:15] Leadership you spoke of from America is truly is extraordinary. I've said this many times before, [7:21] a nation that leads like that and then creates and sets big goals for humanity that brings other [7:28] countries along with it is truly incredible. And I know that's a very intentional, not a [7:33] necessary decision, intentional decision to lead by example and to allow other countries like Canada [7:40] to share our gifts and help you achieve these mutually beneficial goals like establishing a [7:46] presence in the world. And I think that's really, really important. And I think that's really, really [7:46] important. And I think that's really, really important. And I think that's really, really important. I know that the [7:46] Canadians are always doing their best work to finish this program. Everybody is so proud [7:49] of you and the team that's on the moon and eventually going to Mars. And Canadians are so [7:49] proud to be [7:50] a part of this program. [7:53] Well, I have to say, I spoke to a very special person, Wayne Gretzky, who I think, you know, [7:58] the great one, and I spoke to your prime minister and many other friends I have in Canada. They are [8:04] so proud of you. And you have a lot of courage. I'm not sure if they'd want to do that. I'm not even [8:10] sure if The Great One would want to do that, to be honest with you. But you have a lot of courage [8:14] doing what you're doing, a lot of bravery and a lot of a lot of genius. And I think you've got the [8:17] a lot of genius but they're very very proud of you well mr president uh on behalf of nasa we are [8:23] incredibly grateful for your time this evening uh i know the crew that has been on this absolutely [8:30] historic journey has appreciated your words uh and been grateful to share their experiences [8:35] we're all administrator isaac just get a quick comp check make sure you guys are still on the [8:38] line and we didn't have a handover i am yes i am and we're all still with you uh integrity and [8:48] back over to you mr president yeah i think we might have gotten cut off it is a long distance [8:55] it's a long ways the reception's been great there's a little bit of about a nine second delay [9:01] but uh no i just had a uh a statement for i don't know what you heard but uh i was just saying [9:07] they're very proud of your brilliant person from canada on the ship and wayne gretzky is a great [9:14] friend of mine and he's very proud of him and the prime minister i spoke to they're very very [9:19] honored that [9:21] you have a courageous person from canada you have a lot of courageous people from canada so it was [9:26] very nice i'm not sure if you heard me say that but it was very nice yes mr president we heard [9:37] that and we do love our jeremy hansen we love all our canadian astronauts uh jenny gibbons [9:41] josh kutrick they're just great people and they're such a welcome addition to our corps [9:47] right well i do i really look forward to when we can i look forward to seeing you in the oval [9:53] office i'll ask jared to bring you over and i'll ask for your autograph because i don't [9:59] really ask for autographs much but you deserve that you really are something everybody's talking [10:05] about this and i look forward to having you in the oval office at the white house and [10:10] we will celebrate your incredible achievements and triumphs this is big this is really big stuff [10:17] the whole world is talking about it and if you have the time i will certainly find the time [10:22] i've been pretty busy also as you know but i will absolutely find the time and we'll get together and [10:28] uh i'm going to be happy to be with you and i will be happy to be with you as well i hope that's [10:28] awesome and i hope you have a good day and a successful new year and i'll see you next time [10:29] I'm going to be giving you a big salute on behalf of the American people and beyond that. [10:34] Thank you for that, Mr. President, and when you want us, we will be there. [10:46] And thank you for your leadership. Thank you to Jared for his leadership. [10:50] Really, thank you for taking the time out today to visit NASA. [10:53] It's really special for us, but it's really special for the team on the ground.