“We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on planet Mars,” he said. Trump’s comments sparked an enthusiastic response from his close ally, SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk, who pumped his arms and gave a thumbs up.

President Trump vowed to send astronauts to Mars during his second inaugural address. "We will pursue our Manifest Destiny into the stars," he said, promising to send astronauts to plant the American flag on Mars. Elon Musk, the SpaceX CEO and Trump ally, was seated behind the president and gave a vigorous thumbs up at the remark.

President Donald Trump set a bold new goal in his inauguration speech. He wants to go to Mars—and space stocks Rocket Lab USA, Intuitive Machines, Redwire to the moon. Details are thin, but the aspiration should benefit Elon Musk’s SpaceX and a bevy of publicly traded commercial space stocks.

President Trump pledges in inaugural address to pursue policy that 'expands our territory' and to put US astronauts on Mars.

President Trump vowed to send American astronauts to the planet Mars in his inaugural address, envisioning a moment when the U.S. flag is planted on Martian soil. “We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars,