President Trump asked two former 2016 Republican presidential foes at a Tuesday bill signing for a NASA proposal if they would like to embark on a career in outer space.
In a lighthearted moment Tuesday afternoon, Trump enacted the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017, but not without having a little fun with the lawmakers in attendance at the Oval Office for the signing.
“It’s a pretty tough job,” Trump said about being an astronaut, then turned to look at Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. “I don’t know, Ted. Would you like to do it? I don’t think I would.”
Cruz shook his head. Trump turned to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.
“Marco, do you want to do it?” Trump asked. “I’m not sure we want to do it.”
Rubio did not respond, but Cruz chirped up.
“You could send Congress to space,” the Texan recommended.
“We could,” Trump said to laughs from attendees. “What a great idea that could be.”
Following the bill signing, Trump called on Cruz to comment on the bill, which is the first of its kind in seven years.
Cruz, the second-to-last Republican to drop out in last year’s GOP primary, thanked Trump for signing it.
Rubio, whose state is home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, jokingly jabbed Cruz’s home state.
“I’m happy to see that Florida is going to continue to do more than Texas is,” Rubio said.
“It’s going to be a good competition,” Trump added.
Vice President Mike Pence was asked to share his two cents, but the former Indiana governor said Trump should allow Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., to speak.
“Well, he’s a Democrat. I wasn’t going to let him speak,” Trump said, prompting more laughter and a response from Nelson after all.
“We have the commercial companies going to and from the International Space Station and we have NASA going out and exploring the heavens,” Nelson said. “And we’re going to Mars.”
“Good. I love that,” Trump said.
Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, chirped in with the highest praise for Trump.
“Mr. President, if I may? Just as Americans remember that President Eisenhower was the father of the interstate highway system, with your bill signing today and your vision and leadership, future generations will remember that President Donald Trump was the father of the interplanetary highway system,” said Culberson.
“Well, that sounds exciting,” Trump said. “First we want to fix our highways. We’re going to fix our highways.”
Finally, Pence wrapped up the remarks with a serious comment about the law.
“We’re going to be bringing together the best and the brightest in NASA and also in the private sector,” Pence said. “We have elected a builder president and, as he said, America once again has to start building and leading to the stars.”
