“Trump’s Bold Proposal to Stranded Astronauts: Could Their 286-Day Odyssey Take an Unexpected Turn?”

In a twist of cosmic irony fit for a science fiction novel, President Donald Trump recently weighed in on the hefty topic concerning astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams’ extraordinary nine-month stay at the International Space Station (ISS). After safely splashing down off the coast of Florida on March 18, the duo has stirred up more than just water; their extended time in orbit has sparked a whirlwind of debate about possible extra compensation. Could you imagine being stranded in space for almost a year and not getting a paycheck to match? Trump didn’t shy away from expressing his views on the compensation—or the alleged abandonment by the current administration—making headlines once again. Buckle up as we explore the intersection of politics, science, and a little bit of cosmic comedy! LEARN MORE.

Donald Trump has addressed a big aspect of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams’ extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The NASA astronauts splashed down on Earth, off the coast of Florida on Tuesday (18 March), about 18 hours after leaving the ISS, where they had been residing for nine months.

After docking on the ISS, the Boeing Starliner capsule that they travelled into space on ran into some technical issues which led to it being returned without them.

Since their landing, there’s been some discussion about whether Wilmore and Williams will receive more payment for their extra time onboard – a topic which President Trump was quick to give his opinion on.

Their journey back to Earth went on without a hitch (NASA/Keegan Barber/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Trump had previously blamed the Biden administration for ‘abandoning’ Williams and Wilmore, with Elon Musk alleging that he’d offered to bring them home earlier.

Both NASA and the astronauts denied knowledge of this, but Trump had told reporters in the White House: “We have two astronauts that are stuck in space.

“I have asked Elon (Musk), I said, ‘Do me a favour. Can you get them out?’ He said, ‘Yes…’ You shouldn’t have been up there so long.”

But in a clip posted to social media today (21 March), a clip of Trump answering a reporter’s question about the astronaut’s pay has done the rounds on X.

The reporter pointed out that the astronauts would not receive any overtime pay for their stay upon the ISS despite their mission being extended by 286 days, or almost 41 weeks. They further claimed that they should be paid about $1,430 (£1,106) in overtime pay.

A NASA spokesperson told FOX Business that astronauts receive ‘regular, 40-hour work-week salaries’ when aboard the ISS and ‘do not receive overtime or holiday/weekend pay’, adding: “They are also on long-term TDY (Temporary Duty), and receive the incidentals amount for each day they are in space. Incidental expenses for travel to any location is currently $5 per day.”

When asked if the administration would do anything about any compensation, Trump replied: “Well, nobody’s ever mentioned this to me. If I have to to, I’ll pay it out of my own pocket, okay? I’ll get it for them.”

Trump held a press conference in the Oval Office on Friday morning (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

He then added: “Is that all? That’s not a lot for what they had to go through.”

He went on to thank Musk for his involvement, and said to ‘think if we don’t have him’, as his company SpaceX had helped to provide a capsule to bring them back to Earth.

Trump added that he is aware that the body ‘starts to deteriorate’ after nine to 10 months, especially ‘with the bones and the blood’ after 14/15 months.