Trump announces SpaceX will rescue stranded NASA astronauts on International Space Station

President Donald Trump on Tuesday night announced that he has asked SpaceX founder Elon Musk and his company to rescue two NASA astronauts who have been stranded on the International Space Station since last year.

NASA has repeatedly delayed rescue operations for stranded astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were only expected to be on the station for a week. The pair have been stranded in space since June because of safety issues related to their Boeing spacecraft. 

Trump did not share an exact timeline of when the rescue mission would take place, but NASA's next attempt is scheduled for March.

"I have just asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to 'go get' the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "They have been waiting for many months on [the] Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!"

Musk, a known Trump ally, confirmed the operation in a post on X, but also did not offer a timeline for the rescue.

“The POTUS has asked SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the Space Station as soon as possible. We will do so,” Musk wrote on X. “Terrible that the Biden administration left them there [for] so long.”

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.