Trump Calls Artemis II Astronauts After Record-Breaking Lunar Flight

First presidential call with astronauts circling the Moon in over 50 years

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:47am

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A highly textured abstract painting in earthy tones of ochre, sienna, and indigo, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and scientific concepts behind the Artemis II lunar mission.The Artemis II mission's historic lunar flyby marks a major milestone in NASA's ambitious plan to return humans to the Moon.Houston Today

President Donald Trump spoke with the crew of the Artemis II mission shortly after they completed a record-breaking flight around the Moon, the first time a U.S. president has communicated directly with astronauts in lunar orbit in over half a century.

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 sustainable presence on the Moon. Trump's call to the astronauts highlights the renewed national focus and public excitement around the Artemis program.

The details

The Artemis II crew, which includes two American astronauts and one Canadian astronaut, completed a 10-day mission that saw them travel over 238,000 miles from Earth and circle the Moon multiple times. This was the first crewed lunar flight since the final Apollo mission in 1972.

  • Artemis II launched on April 3, 2026.
  • The crew completed their lunar flyby on April 6, 2026.
  • President Trump called the astronauts shortly after their return from the Moon on April 6, 2026.

The players

President Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States who spoke with the Artemis II astronauts after their historic lunar flight.

Artemis II Crew

The three-person crew of the Artemis II mission, which included two American astronauts and one Canadian astronaut, who completed the first crewed lunar flight in over 50 years.

NASA

The U.S. space agency leading the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era.

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What they’re saying

“Today you made history and made all of America really proud,”

— President Donald Trump

What’s next

The Artemis II crew is scheduled to return to Earth on April 14, 2026, where they will be celebrated at a homecoming ceremony in Houston. NASA will then turn its focus to the Artemis III mission, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface as early as 2027.

The takeaway

The successful Artemis II mission has reignited national enthusiasm for space exploration and demonstrated the progress of NASA's ambitious Artemis program to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon. The presidential call to the astronauts underscores the symbolic and political significance of this milestone achievement.