This week, Donald Trump joined a collection of scientists, engineers, and astronauts to sign an executive order renewing the National Space Council. It was not exactly a meeting of the minds.
Trump had a prepared speech but at several points veered wildly off script, leaving the people standing around him – including renowned former astronaut and national hero Buzz Aldrin – to squirm, grimace, and cringe at the sheer stupidity of what was coming out of his mouth. Even worse, on the very same day Trump was holding the photo op, the last three members of the White House science office (all holdovers from the Obama administration) left the job. Trump hasn’t bothered to staff the office with anyone else. Science is not exactly a priority of his.
The awkward affair was caught by television cameras meant to record the event and Aldrin’s pained expression quickly went viral.
At the time, Trump was rambling about “space” – a concept he apparently did not fully understand.
Those are words, sure, but what is he trying to say? Nobody in the room seemed to know.
Buzz Aldrin once decked a crackpot stalker who was harassing him by shouting that the moon landing had been faked. Now, he’s forced to stand next to a man with just as many crackpot ideas and call him “Mr. President.” His face says it all.