Well, folks — if ever there was a cosmic reminder that American ingenuity still matters, it’s this one. Two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, were stuck in orbit for nine months after their Boeing Starliner had what’s being gently called a “technical malfunction.”
What was supposed to be a quick in-and-out mission turned into a high-stakes waiting game nearly a year long, right there on the International Space Station. Nine months. That’s enough time to make a baby and plan a lunar landing.
But here’s where the story lifts off — and it’s not just the rocket fuel talking. When they finally made it back to Earth, thanks to a SpaceX rescue mission on March 18, the two astronauts didn’t waste any time giving credit where it was due.
In their first interview back, they turned to Fox News’ Bill Hemmer and made it crystal clear: they were thankful to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk for making their rescue a priority.
One of the astronauts who was stranded in space for nearly nine months says President Trump and @elonmusk have "earned his trust," adding their leadership has been "strengthening for our nation." | @BillHemmer @AmericaNewsroom pic.twitter.com/5CmHRzzHKw
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 31, 2025
Now let’s pause here — because this part is key. According to the interview, Musk had offered a rescue plan last year, but it was reportedly brushed aside by the Biden administration. That’s right — the guy who builds reusable rockets like they’re Teslas with wings had a plan, and it sat on the shelf while two Americans floated in orbit, stuck, stranded, and waiting.
Butch Wilmore was straightforward in his gratitude: “I respect you. I trust you,” he said, referring to both Trump and Musk. He praised their leadership, their commitment to spaceflight, and — perhaps most telling — their willingness to roll up their sleeves and get involved in something that actually matters.
And let’s be honest, human spaceflight is about as high-stakes as it gets. It’s not a committee hearing or a social media post — it’s oxygen, velocity, life or death. These are the people you want taking action.
And Suni Williams? She backed him up. She said the whole saga — while far from ideal — helped shine a spotlight on what’s really going on up there in low-Earth orbit. More importantly, it showed that when American leadership decides to pay attention, it makes a world of difference. “It sets an example,” she said. You better believe it does.