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Trump's Remarks During SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 Launch Briefing, Merritt Island, FL
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Remarks by President Trump During SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 Launch Briefing | Merritt Island, FL
INFRASTRUCTURE & TECHNOLOGY
Issued on: May 27, 2020
Kennedy Space Center
Merritt Island, Florida
3:47 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. I just want to say this is a very exciting day for our country. We have been at this long and hard for three and a half years.
I want to thank Elon for whos been a friend of mine for a very long time, somebody I have great respect for. But this is 24/7 for you. Youre always thinking about this. Youre thinking about other things, too; you have plenty to think about. But this has been your baby.
MR. MUSK: This is the top focus by far, absolutely.
THE PRESIDENT: This is the toughest one.
MR. MUSK: In fact, Ive told my team: Its not simply the top priority, it is the only priority.
THE PRESIDENT: Thats great. Thats great. Well, it looks beautiful. We wont say congratulations because we have a long way to go, but it looks it looks magnificent.
And I just want to thank everybody in the room. Jim, you took it over from its infancy. And I was saying before, they had grass growing in the runways between the cracks, and now we have the best the best of the best.
And I want to thank again Vice President Mike Pence. He has worked so hard. This has been a labor of love, and
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thanks.
THE PRESIDENT: Great job. Really, a great job.
But I want to thank everybody down here. And this is something the First Lady and I looked very much forward to seeing. And in a short while, thats going to be a lift off. I looks like were probably going to make it weather-wise, Jim. Is that right?
ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: We are a go for launch right now.
THE PRESIDENT: That sounds very exciting, so I hope you all enjoy it. Thank you very much. Thank you for being here.
Jim, would you like to say something?
ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: I would I would love to, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Please.
ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: I want to be I want to be really clear about the transformation that has happened right here at the Kennedy Space Center. And I say this because I know Bob Cabana has been the director of this center for what? Nine
MR. CABANA: Twelve years.
ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: Twelve years.
MR. CABANA: End of October.
ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: There there was a time in our country, Mr. President, about nine years ago, when the space shuttles were retired. And the United States of America has, since then, had no access to space with humans. We have not had any access. And this this area of the country was absolutely devastated. And it was it was at a time when we also canceled the Moon program. We had a great Moon program that was underway.
But because of the hard work of Bob Cabana throughout those times and now weve got, you know, great support from the administration, NASAs budgets, in nominal dollars, are as high as theyve ever been. Were bringing America back, as it relates to human spaceflight.
As you said, sir, there was a day when there was grass growing out of the runways. But but now we not only have the policy directive from the administration, we also have the budgets to match that policy directive to put America preeminent in space.
Appointing the Vice President to chair the National Space Council was a brilliant move that has put us in a position for success. And so were were hitting on all cylinders right now.
I want to be clear: Today is a big day for the nation. And, Elon, were grateful for for your labor of love that goes back a long time as well.
So America needs to be we need to lead the world, sir, and youve put us in a position to do that and were grateful.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Jim.
ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: Yes, sir.
END
3:40 P.M. EDT
Remarks by President Trump During SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 Launch Briefing | Merritt Island, FL
INFRASTRUCTURE & TECHNOLOGY
Issued on: May 27, 2020
Kennedy Space Center
Merritt Island, Florida
3:47 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. I just want to say this is a very exciting day for our country. We have been at this long and hard for three and a half years.
I want to thank Elon for whos been a friend of mine for a very long time, somebody I have great respect for. But this is 24/7 for you. Youre always thinking about this. Youre thinking about other things, too; you have plenty to think about. But this has been your baby.
MR. MUSK: This is the top focus by far, absolutely.
THE PRESIDENT: This is the toughest one.
MR. MUSK: In fact, Ive told my team: Its not simply the top priority, it is the only priority.
THE PRESIDENT: Thats great. Thats great. Well, it looks beautiful. We wont say congratulations because we have a long way to go, but it looks it looks magnificent.
And I just want to thank everybody in the room. Jim, you took it over from its infancy. And I was saying before, they had grass growing in the runways between the cracks, and now we have the best the best of the best.
And I want to thank again Vice President Mike Pence. He has worked so hard. This has been a labor of love, and
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thanks.
THE PRESIDENT: Great job. Really, a great job.
But I want to thank everybody down here. And this is something the First Lady and I looked very much forward to seeing. And in a short while, thats going to be a lift off. I looks like were probably going to make it weather-wise, Jim. Is that right?
ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: We are a go for launch right now.
THE PRESIDENT: That sounds very exciting, so I hope you all enjoy it. Thank you very much. Thank you for being here.
Jim, would you like to say something?
ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: I would I would love to, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Please.
ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: I want to be I want to be really clear about the transformation that has happened right here at the Kennedy Space Center. And I say this because I know Bob Cabana has been the director of this center for what? Nine
MR. CABANA: Twelve years.
ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: Twelve years.
MR. CABANA: End of October.
ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: There there was a time in our country, Mr. President, about nine years ago, when the space shuttles were retired. And the United States of America has, since then, had no access to space with humans. We have not had any access. And this this area of the country was absolutely devastated. And it was it was at a time when we also canceled the Moon program. We had a great Moon program that was underway.
But because of the hard work of Bob Cabana throughout those times and now weve got, you know, great support from the administration, NASAs budgets, in nominal dollars, are as high as theyve ever been. Were bringing America back, as it relates to human spaceflight.
As you said, sir, there was a day when there was grass growing out of the runways. But but now we not only have the policy directive from the administration, we also have the budgets to match that policy directive to put America preeminent in space.
Appointing the Vice President to chair the National Space Council was a brilliant move that has put us in a position for success. And so were were hitting on all cylinders right now.
I want to be clear: Today is a big day for the nation. And, Elon, were grateful for for your labor of love that goes back a long time as well.
So America needs to be we need to lead the world, sir, and youve put us in a position to do that and were grateful.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Jim.
ADMINISTRATOR BRIDENSTINE: Yes, sir.
END
3:40 P.M. EDT
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Trump's Remarks During SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 Launch Briefing, Merritt Island, FL (Original Post)
mahatmakanejeeves
May 2020
OP
Atticus
(15,124 posts)1. Did anyone else just throw up in their mouth---just a little? nt
kacekwl
(7,021 posts)2. A lot really.
MuseRider
(34,120 posts)3. Probably
but I don't seem to notice it much anymore, seems routine these days.