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‘Next step, Mars!’ Trump congratulates ‘very talented’ Artemis II astronauts upon return to earth

April 11, 2026 | | Print Article

A successful return to the moon left the president looking ad astra as he announced the “next step” while praising the Artemis II crew.

Unlike former President Barack Obama, who pushed NASA to conduct outreach to the Middle East, and former President Joe Biden, who prioritized DEI, President Donald Trump set about restoring America’s space program early in his first administration.

Those efforts played out over a 10-day mission that concluded with splashdown in the Pacific Ocean Friday as the chief executive looked beyond plans for a base on the moon toward interplanetary travel as he stated, “next step, Mars!”

“Congratulations to the Great and Very Talented Crew of Artemis II,” the president posted on social media as a video captured the descent from space. “The entire trip was spectacular, the landing was perfect and, as President of the United States, I could not be more proud! I look forward to seeing you all at the White House soon. We’ll be doing it again and then, next step, Mars!”

Over the course of the mission that had seen NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialist Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut, mission specialist Jeremy Hansen, set the record for the farthest distance any human has traveled away from Earth, dramatic images were captured of the far side of the moon, an Earthset and a solar eclipse.

Those pictures had been as welcome as the images of delight on the faces of the astronauts after they were safely recovered from the Orion spacecraft and transported by helicopter to the USS John P. Murtha thanks to a team of specialists with the U.S. Navy. Entry Flight Director Rick Henfling reported, “Everything we’ve been hearing from the surgeons is the flight crew is happy and healthy and ready to come home to Houston.”

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“Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy, welcome home, and congratulations on a truly historic achievement. NASA is grateful to President Donald Trump and partners in Congress for providing the mandate and resources that made this mission and the future of Artemis possible,” expressed NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman in a statement. “Artemis II demonstrated extraordinary skill, courage, and dedication as the crew pushed Orion, SLS (Space Launch System), and human exploration farther than ever before. As the first astronauts to fly this rocket and spacecraft, the crew accepted significant risk in service of the knowledge gained and the future we are determined to build.”

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In addition to taking the long way from Florida to California, traveling roughly 700,000 miles in the trip from the Space Coast to splashdown near San Diego, another highlight of the mission came courtesy of Glover, who preached the Gospel from space before a scheduled loss of communications on the far side of the moon.

“Christ said, in response to what was the greatest command, that it was to love God with all that you are and, he also, being a great teacher, said the second is equal to it, and that is to love your neighbor as yourself,” the pilot shared before sharing love from the moon.

Fox News White House correspondent Aishah Hasnie detailed that, according to a White House official, the president had a television brought out during a dinner in Virginia so as to witness the splashdown of the Artemis II mission.

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With lunar exploration back underway after more than five decades, and Orion Program Manager Howard Hu hoping kids will “be inspired by us, especially by our crews,” Isaacman thanked the unsung heroes who contributed to mission success before calling out the intended plan for 2028 via Artemis IV, to land on the moon once more and construct a base to facilitate reaching further out into the solar system.

“NASA also acknowledges the contributions of the entire NASA workforce, along with our international partners, whose expertise and commitment were essential to this mission’s success,” he said. “With Artemis II complete, focus now turns confidently toward assembling Artemis III and preparing to return to the lunar surface, build the base, and never give up the Moon again.”

Kevin Haggerty
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