Trump Highlights Artemis Crews as America Pushes Back to The Moon

That's why in my first term I signed the orders creating the Artemis program, directing NASA to return American astronauts to the moon and then push forward to Mars. This year Artemis 2 made history circling the moon for the first time in more than 50 years traveling further from Earth than anyone has ever traveled before. Think of the furthest anyone has ever traveled. Before three months ago, it was my privilege to award the crew of Artemis II the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. And today we're pleased to be joined by astronauts Reed Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen. And wherever you may be, please stay back. They're great guys, great people. Next summer Artemis 3 will carry astronauts into orbit on a complex mission to test the next lunar landers and we are pleased to be joined by Artemis 3 astronauts Randy Bresnik and Frank Rubio. Any relation to Marco Rubio? Frank where's Marco? Marco do you know this guy? Come here Marco. Where's Marco? Would you shake his hand? Shake his hand just in case somewhere along the line you're somewhere along the line you're related. Two good-looking guys, somewhere deep down from hundreds of years ago, I think you're related, brother. And thank you all. Because of their work before the end of my term, the United States will return American astronauts to the surface of the moon, so exciting. And soon thereafter, the United States will establish a permanent presence on lunar soil. That's a big ambition. It's been for many years. Just this week, I issued the American Declaration of Freedom in Space, claiming all of space open for American settlement, American civilization, and American freedom.