President Trump Praised as Hero After NASA Astronauts Return Safely

President Donald Trump is earning major praise from NASA insiders after the dramatic return of two American astronauts who had been stranded aboard the International Space Station for nearly 10 months.

According to officials, the successful rescue wouldn’t have been possible without Trump’s direct intervention.

‘This Is a Win for America’

In an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens called the astronauts’ return “a huge win for the Trump administration,” adding, “It would not have happened without President Trump’s leadership. Full stop.”

Veteran astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Tallahassee, Florida, last Tuesday after Elon Musk’s SpaceX capsule completed a high-risk extraction mission. The SpaceX Dragon capsule had been launched just days before in what many inside NASA say was a mission fast-tracked by Trump’s behind-the-scenes pressure.

Trump’s Pick to Lead NASA: The Next Giant Leap

Stevens didn’t stop there. She made it clear: the return of America’s astronauts is only phase one. Next up? Confirming Trump’s pick to lead NASA — billionaire entrepreneur and space pioneer Jared Isaacman.

“Jared is the right man to carry this agenda forward,” Stevens said. “He’s a successful businessman, the first civilian to complete a human spacewalk, and he’s already proven his dedication to service by working closely with St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.”

Thirty astronauts and a coalition of Republican governors are backing Isaacman’s nomination. Among them: Ron DeSantis, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Greg Abbott, and Brian Kemp — all urging the Senate to fast-track his confirmation.

Isaacman Brings Business Brains to the Launchpad

Isaacman, who founded the payment processing giant Shift4 Payments, also led the historic Polaris Dawn mission in 2024. “Like President Trump, he’s not a D.C. insider,” Stevens said. “And that’s exactly what NASA needs right now — someone who can cut through bureaucracy and get results.”

The call for a shakeup comes after what some have dubbed the “Biden-era space drift” — a period where progress on space initiatives slowed and morale inside NASA sagged.

Trump’s Space Doctrine: America First, Even Beyond Earth

President Trump’s second inaugural address laid out his bold vision: “America First in Space.” That means returning to the moon, landing boots on Mars, and expanding American dominance in low-Earth orbit — all within his second term.

“We’ve got less than four years to make this happen,” Stevens said. “And with Isaacman at the helm, we finally have the leadership to execute on that vision.”

She added, “This isn’t just about science. This is about national pride, economic opportunity, and projecting American leadership across the galaxy.”

Governors to Senate: Stop Dragging Your Feet

In a letter exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey joined her colleagues in urging the Senate Commerce Committee to act. The letter calls Isaacman’s appointment “mission-critical,” saying his private-sector experience gives him “an unmatched ability to lead NASA through this pivotal moment.”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who chairs the committee, is expected to push for a vote before the end of the month.

Trump Even Offers to Pay Out of Pocket

Never one to shy away from a headline, President Trump himself joked last week that he’d be willing to pay the returning astronauts “overtime out of my own pocket.”

‘Let’s Get the Ball Rolling’

With Wilmore and Williams safely back on Earth, NASA says it’s ready to move. “The president’s space agenda is clear. We’re going to the Moon, to Mars, and beyond,” Stevens said. “But first, we need the right leadership in place. That means confirming Jared Isaacman — and getting to work.”

This moment, she stressed, “is about restoring American greatness where it matters most — beyond Earth’s atmosphere.”