President Trump participates in the Congressional Space Medal of Honor presentation - 8/28/2026

Summary

President Trump speaks at Johnson Space Center to present the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the Artemis 2 crew. He touts the revival of the U.S. space program, growth in private orbital launches, the military role of Space Force, and future Moon/Mars ambitions. He also announces an executive order to create the U.S. Space Academy and cites record U.S. stock market highs.

• Trump awards the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to Artemis 2 astronauts Reed Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Cook, and Jeremy Hansen.
• He highlights the Artemis 2 mission's journey past the far side of the Moon and record distance from Earth.
• He says U.S. orbital launches rose from 22 in 2016 to nearly 200 last year.
• He credits private-sector competition, the Space Force, and NASA leadership for the space program's revival.
• He announces an executive order to create the U.S. Space Academy for Space Force, NASA, and commercial spaceflight.
• He mentions the Roman Space Telescope launch and a planned nuclear-powered Mars spacecraft for 2028.
• He points to 81 U.S. stock market highs in 1.5 years and $19.2 trillion in foreign investment.