He’s putting the blame firmly on the Biden administration
Becoming the world’s richest man doesn’t come without making tough choices and speaking your mind—something Elon Musk is no stranger to. Known for his bold and unapologetic remarks, Musk has once again turned his attention to NASA, taking aim at the situation involving astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore.
Despite Williams’ insistence that they are not “stranded,” the two astronauts have been stuck aboard the International Space Station since July 2024. They were part of the first crewed mission aboard the Boeing Starliner, which was supposed to last only eight days. However, due to a malfunction with the spacecraft, it was sent back unmanned, leaving Williams and Wilmore marooned in orbit.
In response to the situation, President Donald Trump has urged Musk to “go get” the astronauts. Meanwhile, NASA has confirmed the timeline for their rescue, but Musk’s sharp words and decisive action might soon add another twist to this high-stakes space drama.
The debate surrounding the return of astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore continues to ignite controversy, with Elon Musk suggesting that the Biden administration may have intentionally kept them stranded for political reasons. This accusation riled ESA astronaut Andreas Morgensen, who hit back, calling Musk a liar. Musk, never one to hold back, fired back with a scathing retort, calling Morgensen an “idiot,” and thus sparking a full-blown internet feud. In one particularly intense exchange, Musk wrote: “You are fully retarded. SpaceX could have brought them back months ago. I OFFERED THIS DIRECTLY to the Biden administration and they refused. Return WAS pushed back for political reasons. Idiot.”
Musk’s frustration didn’t end there. He later opened up about the situation during an interview on The Joe Rogan Experience. While discussing his ambitious plans for a Mars civilization, Musk addressed the question of rescuing the astronauts. “Yeah, that’s coming up in a couple of weeks… They were supposed to be up there for like eight days, and they’ve been up there for, I think, eight months. So, a little longer than expected,” Musk stated.
When Rogan asked about the astronauts’ adjustment to life back on Earth, Musk explained some of the challenges of prolonged space travel, calling the whole ordeal a “political football” after the Biden administration reportedly rejected his offer to bring the astronauts home earlier. Musk doubled down on his political stance, saying, “There’s no way they’re [the Biden administration] going to make anyone who’s supporting Trump look good.”
Musk also revealed that SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft is the only one deemed safe enough for the mission, claiming that although the Russians could have used their own rockets, they would have charged exorbitant fees and used the mission as a propaganda tool.
Despite his frustration, Musk’s remarks make it clear that the return of Williams and Wilmore is imminent, and as time ticks down, we may be just a couple of weeks away from seeing them back on Earth—though the political tensions and Musk’s fiery remarks are far from over.
