Trump Pressures Artemis II Astronauts to Criticize NATO During White House Visit

The crew of NASA’s Artemis II visited the White House on Wednesday to celebrate their successful mission around the moon, but the event took an unexpected turn when they were drawn into a heated discussion about NATO. The astronauts stood uncomfortably behind Donald Trump as he addressed reporters from behind the Resolute Desk.

Trump turned to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman—who became the third administrator of the agency in January 2025—and asked, “What do you think of that, Jared? Sending help after we win the war?” before gesturing toward the astronauts with an open hand.

“I don’t want to get you guys involved,” Trump chortled, “but I can imagine what you’re thinking.” The astronauts, however, did not share his amusement. Instead, they appeared visibly distressed, grimacing, pursing their lips, and avoiding eye contact as the president continued his remarks.

"The Artemis II crew looks mortified as Trump turns to them while he's attacking NATO." — Aaron Rupar, April 29, 2026

Trump has a long history of criticizing NATO, falsely claiming that member nations owe financial dues to the alliance. In reality, NATO does not operate like a club with annual membership fees, as explained by former Obama staffer Aaron O’Connell in a 2018 NPR interview. O’Connell clarified that “NATO is not like a club with annual membership fees,” and there is “no ledger that maintains accounts of what countries pay and owe.”

Despite these facts, Trump has repeatedly accused NATO allies of being “cowards” and “terrible” for refusing to support his blockade of Iran’s Strait of Hormuz. His rhetoric has strained relations with key allies, including the United Kingdom, where King Charles addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Tuesday. The king emphasized the importance of NATO, reminding lawmakers that the alliance’s Article 5—its collective defense clause—has only been invoked once: in response to the 9/11 attacks on the U.S.

When asked about the king’s speech, Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he “loved the speech,” but his stance on NATO remained unchanged. He reiterated his skepticism about the alliance and suggested that the U.S. should reconsider its participation.

Former national security adviser John Bolton, who served under both Trump and Ronald Reagan, has warned of severe consequences if the U.S. withdraws from NATO. Bolton argued that America’s exit could effectively dismantle the alliance, leaving Europe fractured and weakening the U.S.’s global credibility as an ally.