NASA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump on Friday [6-7-19] appeared to back off the goal his administration set just several months ago to put humans back on the moon by 2024. Trump wrote in a tweet NASA should instead focus on exploring Mars. ‘For all of the money we are spending, NASA should NOT be talking about going to the Moon — We did that 50 years ago,’ Trump wrote. ‘They should be focused on the much bigger things we are doing, including Mars (of which the Moon is a part), Defense and Science!’ Later in the day NASA sought to downplay the declaration, insisting the president still supports his own administration’s exploration plans. ‘As @POTUS said, @NASA is using the Moon to send humans to Mars!,’ NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted, using the acronym for president of the United States…But the president’s surprise pronouncement, so soon after the 2024 goal was announced and Trump himself revealed a $1.6 billion request for more money to support it, only sowed more doubt on whether the ambitious moon plans are serious.”
–Jaqueline Feldscher, “Trump backs off 2024 moon plans in tweet,” Politico, June 7, 2019 7:50 pm