Rescued Astronauts Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams Give First Interview Since Return To Earth, Thank Trump For Involvement

NASA astronauts Suni Williams (L) and Butch Wilmore laugh while answering questions during NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 post-flight news conference at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on March 31, 2025. After an unexpected nine-month stay in space, the pair of NASA astronauts finally returned to Earth on March 18, 2025, concluding a mission that captured global attention and became a political flashpoint. (Photo by Mark Felix / AFP) (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)
NASA astronauts Suni Williams (L) and Butch Wilmore laugh while answering questions during NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 post-flight news conference at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on March 31, 2025. After an unexpected nine-month stay in space, the pair of NASA astronauts finally returned to Earth on March 18, 2025, concluding a mission that captured global attention and became a political flashpoint. (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Staff Abril Elfi
2:22 PM – Monday, March 31, 2025

Rescued NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams gave their first interview since returning to earth after being stranded in space for nine months, thanking President Donald Trump for his involvement.

On Monday, Fox News aired Willmore and Williams’ first interview since their return from space, in which Willmore said he’s “grateful” that Trump is taking an “active role” in space flight programs.

Wilmore also stated that it’s “refreshing” that the current administration has shown a keen interest and that Trump, as well as Elon Musk, had earned his trust.

“I have no reason not to believe anything they say because they’ve earned my trust,” Wilmore, 62, said.

“For that, I am grateful that our national leaders are coming in and taking part in our human space flight program, which we see as hugely important, [of] global significance, and they are taking an active role. And based on the past and what we’re seeing now… it’s refreshing, not just refreshing, it’s empowering,” he continued.

When he was asked what he would say to Trump and Musk, Wilmore responded, “I respect you. I trust you. You’ve given me no reason not to, either one of them.”

Williams added that she, too, appreciated Trump and Musk were taking an interest.

“I’m just glad that they’re involved and they’re taking notice,” Williams, 59, said.

She added that their situation “allowed a lot of people, including the president and Elon, to look at what’s going on at the International Space Station, take it very seriously and understand that our involvement as a country, as a space-faring nation, is really important throughout the world.”

“It sets an example and it shows, you know, our ability to be able to put people in space, operate in space, work in space, and then bring them back,” she said.

However, when asked if Boeing was among those at fault for the incident, they did not deem anyone responsible.

“I wouldn’t characterize it as they failed us,” Williams said. “I characterize it as there was a huge team that was working together diligently to try to weigh all the risks of putting people in a spacecraft for the very first time with brand new systems.”

“Putting people on spacecraft and launching them into space for extended periods of time, it’s hard.”

Wilmore said that he is “culpable” too and that everyone has a bit of blame in what happened.

“Is Boeing to blame, are they culpable? Sure. Is NASA to blame? Are they culpable? Sure. Everybody has a piece in this because it did not come up. There was some shortcomings in tests, shortcomings in preparation that we did not foresee,” he said.

“Could you point fingers? I don’t want to point fingers. I hope nobody wants to point fingers. We don’t want to look back and say ‘shame, shame, shame.’ We will look forward and say, ‘let’s rectify what we’ve learned and let’s make the future even more productive and better.’”

Wilmore and Williams, 59, splashed down off the Gulf Coast of Florida near Tallahassee — just before 6 p.m. ET on March 18th. They returned to Earth after being in space for 286 days.

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Freed Israeli hostage Mia Schem in first interview since her release from Hamas captivity in Gaza

Israeli Hostage Sapir Cohen Shares CHILLING Hamas Survival Story | TBN Israel

Mati Shoshani meets freed Israeli hostage Sapir Cohen, a survivor of 55 days in Hamas captivity. Cohen shares her harrowing experiences, her unwavering faith, and her ongoing journey to rebuild her life while awaiting the return of her partner, Sasha, and all remaining hostages. Watch now on TBN Israel.

Robert Spencer at Restoration Weekend: The Global Jihad Has Advanced Since 9-11

Beware of the falsehood that Islam is peaceful -- and that jihad is an interior spiritual struggle.

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Below is the video of remarks given by Robert Spencer at the David Horowitz Freedom Center’s 2024 Restoration Weekend. The event was held Nov. 21-24 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Naples, Florida.

Europe’s Muslim Population Is Rising And Jews Are Leaving.

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Throughout Western Europe, the Muslim percentage of the population is growing steadily, both from continued immigration and from much higher birth rates among Muslims than those exhibited by the indigenous non-Muslim population. There are now an estimated forty-four million Muslims in Europe, about 5% of the population. That number is expected to rise to 7.5% of the population — if nothing is done to halt Muslim immigration — by 2050. And growing antisemitism, which is encouraged and spread mainly by those Muslim migrants, is causing more Jews to think of leaving Europe for Israel or North America. More on this disturbing development can be found here: “Islam conquers Europe and Jews flee,” by Giulio Meotti, Israel National News, December 18, 2024:

…“Islam is advancing and I see in the West a desire to disappear,” Michel Houellebecq told the Italian daily Il Corriere della Sera.

In the Paris of the author of “Submission”, a dystopian novel that has become a daily chronicle, the famous philosopher Pierre Manent has just been reported to the judiciary, guilty of having said that “the number of Muslims in France cannot be allowed to grow at an indefinite rate. Secularism can more easily move a statue of Saint Michael than transform Islam. Failure to act could lead to a tragedy that no version of secularism will enable us to face”. Left-wing deputies have denounced him. “Incitement to hatred”. Article 40 of the penal code.

Pierre Manent’s statement is not one meant to incite hatred. He is, rather, a vox clamantis in deserto, a bleak Cassandra who sees, and fears, the ongoing Islamization of Europe. Without hate, but with foreboding. They are different things.

“Victims of antisemitism and Islamism, unite! The time of pogroms has returned, the Jews know it and have been saying it for a long time,” said the courageous Algerian writer Boualem Sansal.

Boualem Sansal is an Algerian novelist and essayist who deserves to be widely known outside the francophone world. He writes in French. In 2012, he was the recipient of the Editions Gallimard Arabic Novel prize for his book Rue Darwin. The prize is awarded by the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Paris. However, after the council learned that Sansal had taken part in the Jerusalem Writers Festival earlier that year, they decided not to award him the prize money of 15,000 euros. Sansal fought back, describing the decision as “completely unacceptable.” Arab countries – and especially his own country of Algeria – he said had “locked themselves in a prison of intolerance.” France Culture radio director Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, who headed the predominantly Arab jury that awarded the prize, resigned his post in protest, claiming that the prize money had been withdrawn as a “sordid” consequence of pressure from the terror group Hamas. D’Avram explained that “between being nominated for the prize and receiving it, Boualem Sansal visited Israel … Hamas immediately issued a statement calling his presence an act of treason against the Palestinians. The reaction of the Arab Ambassadors Council was a direct result of this.”

Sansal has always maintained that he does not regret visiting Israel. “I am glad I visited Israel and returned with great happiness.” He also said that “Israelis have all the reasons in the world to be proud of what they have achieved in their country in such a short period of time…In so many fields, Israel is at the international forefront and it is very impressive.”

Sansal also said that he was moved by support he had received from Avigdor Lieberman, who as Israel’s Minister of Culture had denounced the Arab boycott of Sansal for having visited Israel. Sansal said of Lieberman: “His statement was so gracious in comparison to Arab governments. He told them: ‘You’re persecuting intellectuals. We embrace them and care for their safety. That is why your citizens are rebelling against you.’ That is a harsh blow to Arab governments.”  And while he had nothing but praise for Lieberman and for Israel, Sansal criticized Hamas as well, saying that it was a terrorist movement that “has taken Gazans hostage. It has taken Islam hostage.”

It is Sansal, an Algerian born into Islam (but who I assume is no longer a believer), who is alarmed about a future Muslim takeover of Europe, and about the jihadism that is now spreading and poisoning the minds of young Muslims. If you won’t listen to such Infidels as Robert Spencer on the future of an ever-more-islamizing Europe, then for god’s sake listen to the former Muslim Boualem Sansal.

Trump Issues Strongest Defense of Gun Rights Since Assassination Attempt

SEE: https://www.ammoland.com/2024/08/trump-issues-strongest-defense-of-gun-rights-since-assassination-attempt; republished below in full, unedited, for informational, educational, & research purposes:

 

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On Saturday at Gun Owners of America’s inaugural Advocacy and Leadership Summit, President Donald Trump virtually addressed the crowd of attendees with both words of encouragement and a warning about the siege facing Second Amendment rights in the lead-up to the November election.

President Trump’s speech, which was warmly received by the crowd, comes at a time when Second Amendment rights face some of their greatest threats in history. Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and anti-gun tyrants in Congress and state legislatures across the country have unleashed a relentless assault against guns, owners, and dealers nationwide.

In his speech, President Trump addressed gun owners in America by name, saying, among other things:

“When I am President, I will always listen to Gun Owners of America. I want to congratulate all of you, because you’ve really come a long way in a short period of time…”

“Kamala Harris has supported gun confiscation schemes throughout her career…”

“I ask all of the gun owners to get out and vote…”

Watch the full video above.

Tim Macy, the Chairman of Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement:

“We’re incredibly grateful to President Trump for taking the time to address our attendees. Without a doubt, this was President Trump’s strongest take on gun rights to date, and coupled with Senator Vance as his running mate, gun owners have a clear choice this November.”

Erich Pratt, GOA’s Senior Vice President, added:

“Our rights are absolutely on the ballot, and it’s essential that gun owners do everything we can to turn out the pro-gun vote and ensure Kamala Harris is not the next occupant of the White House.”


About Gun Owners of America

Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center.

Gun Owners of America GOA logo

Trump at RNC: Trump Makes First Public Appearance Since Shooting, Names Vice President Pick JD Vance

Two days after an attempt to assassinate him, former President Donald Trump appeared with a bandage on his ear at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he was greeted by an excited crowd with chants of “Fight,” a reference to the word Trump mouthed after surviving the shooting. Former US President Donald Trump and his vice presidential pick, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, were earlier formally nominated as the GOP ticket for the 2024 us presidential elections. Vance, a venture capitalist and author of the bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” has adopted Trump’s populist agenda after previously being a pointed critic.