Political Turmoil as Stranded Astronauts Head Home

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will be returning to Earth in a SpaceX capsule (created by Elon Musk) after being stranded in space for nine months. On Truth Social, President Donald Trump praised NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro for planning the rescue mission but condemned the Biden Administration for failing to save the astronauts. Was the delay politically motivated?

Trump posted:

[Janet Petro] is coordinating our Team of highly respected Scientists, Space Engineers, and various other “geniuses,” who has agreed to let our Astronauts come home long prior to the two week period originally approved by NASA. Janet was great. She said, “Let’s bring them home NOW, Sir!” — And I thanked her. This began when I asked Elon Musk to go up and get the abandoned Astronauts, because the Biden Administration was incapable of doing so. They shamefully forgot about the Astronauts, because they considered it to be a very embarrassing event for them – Another thing I inherited from that failed group of incompetents.

The mission was supposed to last only 10 days but was much longer after the Boeing Starliner craft had mechanical issues at the International Space Station. The astronauts were not prepared to be stranded for nine months, likely experiencing health complications. At the same time, they have been careful not to blame the delay on political motivations.

Musk told Joe Rogan that his company had offered to bring Wilmore and Williams home earlier, but the Biden Administration “pushed the return date past the inauguration date.”

To be fair, sending another craft to rescue stranded astronauts would require an exorbitant amount of money. But Musk blamed the delay on the fact that “[t]here’s no way that they’re gonna make anyone who’s supporting Trump look good.” Sending his SpaceX rocket up earlier would have given Musk and Trump a win during a contentious political season.

It’s hard to argue with Musk’s assertion. Sure, taking a few weeks to save stranded astronauts is understandable. But nine months? That’s political motivation at its core. Regardless, the ACLJ is thrilled that the astronauts are being rescued. We pray for their safety as they return home.

This week the ACLJ is taking international action to defend Israel and persecuted Christians. ACLJ Senior Counsel CeCe Heil is appearing at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva to present two oral interventions: one on behalf of Israel and another planned intervention on blasphemy laws in Pakistan (which are used to imprison Pakistani Christians).

She spoke on her work in Geneva this week:

I met this morning with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. I also met with the Working Group on Enforced Involuntary Disappearances, and as you know, we still have two clients, the Berman brothers, who are still being held hostage in [Gaza]. So I was able to talk to them about that. We will have seven meetings with special rapporteurs, [which] are just independent experts that report and inform the Council, . . . and they are experts on themes and countries. And so the themes are things like freedom of religion, arbitrary detention, peaceful assembly, [and] freedom of expression. . . . We’ll also be meeting with one of the delegates from Pakistan and talking about our cases in Pakistan. So it’s really a week just full of very important meetings, defending the rights of persecuted Christians across the world, and also defending Israel.

Through our international affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), we have been granted special consultative status at the U.N., which enables us to deliver these oral interventions. We will never stop fighting to defend Israel and suffering Christians.

Based on the failed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas (after the terrorists refused to release the remaining Israeli hostages), America’s greatest ally needs our help now more than ever. But we can’t make these oral interventions without you.

We are in the middle of our Life & Liberty Drive – gifts are doubled at this time. Donate today to fund our legal work to defend Israel and persecuted Christians. And be sure to sign our petition to defend Israel from worldwide attacks. Your voice makes a difference.

Today’s Sekulow broadcast included a full analysis of the Biden Administration’s possible political motivations that delayed the rescue of the astronauts. Also, former Acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell discussed President Trump’s striving to bring peace to Ukraine and Israel.

Watch the full broadcast below: