President Donald Trump connected with American astronauts aboard the International Space Station during his visit to Houston’s Johnson Space Center. Earlier, he paid tribute to the Artemis II crew.

Trump humorously remarked that many Americans would enjoy venturing into space, although he personally would not choose to. “I hate to admit it. I would not want to do it. But some people love it more than anything,” he stated from NASA’s mission control center.

The astronauts expressed their excitement about speaking with the president. Occupied with ongoing spacewalks, they planned another in the coming week. Trump praised their pioneering spirit in advancing space exploration.

He invited other officials to converse with the ISS crew and extended an invitation for the astronauts to visit the White House upon their return.

“We’re going to see you when you get back,” Trump assured them, offering time at the Oval Office.

The meeting occurred shortly after Trump awarded the Artemis II crew the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. He also signed an executive order to establish the U.S. Space Force Academy, equating its stature to West Point and other military academies.