Trump Offers to Cover Overtime Pay for Stranded Astronauts
President Trump promises to fund overtime for astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore after their extended stay of 286 days in space, amid concerns over limited compensation.
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NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams should be paid more after their eight-day test flight of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft turned into a nearly 10-month post on the International Space Station, according to President Donald Trump.
Trump Says He Will Personally Cover Returned Astronauts’ Overtime Pay If NASA Doesn’t
Epoch Times·1M·Mixed ReliableThis source has a mixed track record—sometimes accurate but also prone to bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting.RightThis outlet favors right-wing views.
The astronauts, who were supposed to be in space only eight days, spent an extra 278 days orbiting the Earth after their spacecraft malfunctioned.
New York Sun·1M·Mixed ReliableThis source has a mixed track record—sometimes accurate but also prone to bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting.RightThis outlet favors right-wing views.
The pair were originally scheduled for only a short eight-day stay on the International Space Station, but safety issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft led NASA to keep them on board for about nine months.
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Trump reflected Friday on “what they had to go through” while floating above Earth’s atmosphere — after he and Musk both dinged Biden for leaving them up there too long.
New York Post·1M·Mostly ReliableThis source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.Leans RightThis outlet slightly leans right.
Summary
President Trump stated he would personally pay the overtime for astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were stranded in space for 286 days on a NASA mission. The astronauts were supposed to spend only eight days onboard the International Space Station, but safety issues delayed their return. They were only eligible for a $5 daily incidental allowance, prompting Trump's offer during a press briefing. Elon Musk's SpaceX later successfully rescued the astronauts, who splashed down off Florida's coast. Concerns over their health and the implications of the extended mission were discussed.
Perspectives
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