Trump announces new US Space Academy during Artemis II medal presentation speech

President Trump presented the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the four Artemis II astronauts Friday at Johnson Space Center, honoring their April lunar orbital mission ahead of the planned 2028 Artemis IV landing. During the ceremony he announced and signed an executive order creating a U.S. Space Academy, comparing it to West Point and Annapolis, without naming a location despite lobbying from Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Brian Babin.

Much of the speech drifted between praising the astronauts and praising himself, including references to the Space Force's role in the invasion of Venezuela and the capture of Nicolas Maduro, a claim about moving NASA from 'the dark ages' into a 'golden age,' and a passing wish to have something on the moon named after himself. He also touted stock market highs before stepping aside to sign the order.

Commander Reid Wiseman thanked the president and credited the mission's success to the broader NASA and international team rather than the crew itself. Pilot Victor Glover presented Trump with a flight jacket bearing patches marking his two terms.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.