Trump calls in to NASA press conference to celebrate launch of Roman Space Telescope, a mission he tried to cancel

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — On August 30, President Donald Trump unexpectedly interrupted a NASA press conference to congratulate the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team on the successful launch of their observatory. A few years prior, in 2016, Trump had attempted to cancel the very same mission. During today's briefing, mission leadership shared updates on Roman's launch and the scientific discoveries anticipated from the telescope. This marked a striking contrast to Trump's previous efforts to undermine the project.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman received a phone call from President Trump, which the room fell silent to observe. Isaacman, after a moment, acknowledged Trump's voice, and the president began his congratulatory remarks. "You're live, Mr. President," Isaacman informed him, holding up the phone for the audience to see. Trump, speaking for over a minute, expressed his satisfaction with the team's work and reassured them of his continued financial support.

However, Trump's relationship with the Roman Space Telescope is a complex one. In his first term, he visited the Kennedy Space Center in 2016 and observed that the facility was in disrepair, with grass growing through runway cracks. He had initially proposed canceling the mission, but Congress consistently rejected these attempts.

Only in April 2025 did reports emerge about proposed budget cuts that could have ended the Roman mission. These cuts were ultimately rejected by Congress, and the agency secured a $24.4 billion budget for fiscal year 2026, maintaining funding levels.

Trump's congratulatory call drew attention to this recent budget history. During the press conference, SpaceNews reporter Jeff Foust asked Isaacman about Trump's shift in stance on the mission. Isaacman, while acknowledging the president's support, did not delve into the past controversies, instead focusing on the positive climate surrounding the mission.