Trump Calls Artemis II Astronauts

Former president speaks with crew after historic moon flyby

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:55pm

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An abstract, textured painting in shades of brown, orange, and blue, featuring sweeping geometric arcs and concentric circles representing the trajectory of the Artemis II spacecraft as it orbits the moon, conveying the scale and complexity of this historic mission.The historic Artemis II mission marks a major step forward in NASA's ambitious plan to return humans to the lunar surface.NYC Today

Former President Donald Trump spoke with the astronauts of the Artemis II mission hours after their spacecraft swung around the far side of the moon, taking them farther from Earth than any humans have traveled in over 50 years.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in NASA's ambitious plan to return humans to the lunar surface, with the ultimate goal of establishing a long-term presence on the moon. Trump's call to the astronauts highlights the continued political interest and support for the Artemis program, which began under his administration.

The details

The Artemis II spacecraft successfully completed a flyby of the moon on Monday, coming within 100 miles of the lunar surface before swinging back towards Earth. This uncrewed test flight paves the way for the first crewed Artemis mission, which will send astronauts on a similar trajectory around the moon as soon as 2024.

  • The Artemis II spacecraft completed its lunar flyby on Monday, April 7, 2026.
  • Former President Trump spoke with the Artemis II astronauts shortly after their historic mission.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States, who initiated the Artemis program during his administration to return astronauts to the moon.

Artemis II Astronauts

The crew of the Artemis II mission, which will be the first crewed flight around the moon since the Apollo program.

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What they’re saying

“President Trump spoke with the astronauts of the Artemis II mission hours after their spaceship swung around the far side of the moon and took them farther from Earth than any humans.”

— New York Times

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is a critical precursor to the Artemis III mission, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo program. NASA is targeting a 2024 launch for Artemis III, pending successful completion of the Artemis II flight test.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in NASA's renewed push to explore the moon, with strong political support from the previous administration. This mission paves the way for the first crewed lunar landing in over 50 years, reigniting public interest and excitement around human space exploration.