Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, endorsed Donald Trump for president on Wednesday.
“In this election, we have a choice. We all have one vote. For some, the choice may not be easy — but in times of uncertainty real leaders are most needed — to guide and inspire a people, to push through the noise, recognize what really matters, and accomplish missions critical to all citizens,” the Apollo 11 astronaut said in a statement “Most citizens rightly consider it an honor to cast their vote for a leader they believe will best serve the Nation — our government by, for and of the people.”
“For me, for the future of our Nation, to meet enormous challenges, and for the proven policy accomplishments above, I believe the nation is best served by voting for Donald J. Trump,” he continued. “I wholeheartedly endorse him for President of the United States. Godspeed President Trump, and God Bless the United States of America.”
Trump’s dedication to human space exploration, as well as the revitalized interest America saw in space under Trump’s last administration, were two reasons why Aldrin offered his endorsement to the Republican candidate.
“His Administration reignited national efforts to get back to the Moon, and push on to Mars – programs that continue today,” Aldrin said. “The Trump Administration also reinstituted the National Space Council, so leading voices could advocate for the importance of space to America. Finally, under President Trump, the Nation’s defense was enhanced with the creation of the U.S. Space Force– increasingly important as space becomes a contested domain.”
“At the same time, I have been enthused and excited by the great advancements in the private sector space economy, led by visionaries like Elon Musk,” he added. “These are concrete accomplishments that align with my concerns and America’s policy priorities. More broadly, we are facing serious and difficult realities on the global security landscape. Domestically, we face major economic challenges, stability in our communities, and rule of law concerns. For these reasons and others, we need a proven, serious, tested leader for President.”
Trump and Aldrin met together in the Oval Office in 2019 on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, during which Aldrin expressed his disappointment with the lack of government interest in space exploration. The 94-year-old astronaut has also endorsed other Republican candidates and he previously spoke at CPAC in 2016.