Trump congratulates Artemis II crew after historic lunar flyby

President Donald Trump spoke with the astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II mission hours after their spacecraft passed around the far side of the moon, taking them farther from Earth than any humans in history.

“You’ve made history and made all America really proud,” Mr. Trump told the crew, also acknowledging the contribution of Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen spacecraft passed behind the moon. Pilot Victor Glover replied, “I must say, it was actually quite nice.”

Near the end of the call, there was a brief pause of over a minute, giving the impression that the connection had dropped.

The astronauts adjusted their spinning microphone before confirming, and Mr. Trump rejoined, saying, “I think we might have gotten cut off,” with NASA controllers laughing in the background.

The exchange highlighted both the historic nature of the Artemis II mission and a rare personal moment between the U.S. president and the astronauts venturing beyond the moon.