WHITE HOUSE BLAMES BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR EXTENDED STAY OF SUNITA WILLIAMS AND BUTCH WILMORE IN SPACE

An Emirati Magazine publication – Released on March 20, 2025 | www.emiratimagazine.com

The White House has attributed the prolonged stay of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to the previous Joe Biden administration's lack of urgency. Originally scheduled for a week, their mission extended to 286 days before their return.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, in a press briefing on Wednesday, highlighted former President Donald Trump's swift intervention in coordinating their rescue. She stated that Trump immediately directed NASA and SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, to expedite the astronauts' return.

Leavitt criticized Biden’s inaction, claiming that his administration’s hesitation delayed their return. She emphasized that Trump personally contacted NASA’s acting administrator, Janet Petro, to accelerate the mission.

The astronauts are currently undergoing medical evaluations, and President Trump is expected to welcome them to the Oval Office once they recover.