Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore react to comments made by Donald Trump, Elon Musk: ‘That's part of life’

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore on Tuesday clarified that politics did not play any part in delaying their return to Earth. Wilmore made the comment while reacting to a question on the comments made by US President Donald Trump and SpaceX's Elon Musk.

In January, Trump and Musk have blamed the Joe Biden administration for delaying their return from the International Space Station (ISS). 

Donald Trump and Elon Musk said at the end of January that they wanted to accelerate the astronauts' return, blaming the previous administration.

While reacting to the controversy on Tuesday's press conference, Wilmore said that he fully support Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

“I can tell you that we have utmost respect for Donald Trump and Elon Musk. We appreciate all of they do for us. The words they have said, politcs. That's part of life. We understand that,” said Wilmore. 

‘This place is ticking’: Sunita Williams react to Musk's call to dump ISS in two years

Elon Musk in February called for the deorbiting of the International Space Station (ISS) within two years. Addressing the same, Sunita Williams said, “This place is ticking. It's just really amazing, so I would say we're actually in our prime right now,” said Williams, a three-time space station resident. “I would think that right now is probably not the right time to say quit, call it quits.”

Suntia Williams and Butch Wilmore are staying at the ISS for months after their return to Earth from ISS were delayed because of technical glitch in Boeing's new Starliner capsule. The two astronauts travelled to ISS aboard Boeing's new Starliner capsule in June. 

The Starliner had so many problems getting to the space station that NASA ruled it too dangerous to carry anyone and it flew back empty.

Wilmore and Williams — retired Navy captains and repeat space fliers — have rejected rumours about their health issues due to extended stay in space. They took a spacewalk together in January.