The bizarre dichotomy of the US: The amazing & inspiring Artemis II mission and the incompetent, malicious Donald Trump

[LonePirate]

Thousands of the smartest and most dedicated people on the planet contributed to making the Artemis II mission a wonderful and awe-inspiring success while millions of the dumbest and most evil people on the planet elected Donald Trump, the worst world leader in decades, who is mind-numbingly corrupt, ignorant and antithetical to everything that is great about the Artemis II mission.

Somehow I don't understand how this country is capable of both of those; yet I also know far too well how it's possible both of those happened.

[Tim S]

1. Well, we *did* have Nixon/Vietnam & Apollo happening at the same time.

History rhymes

[Johonny]

2. Trump is massively defunding science

In his attempt to dismantle Universities because he's a moron that doesn't respect education.

He barely cares about our science achievements, but will talk for hours about the gold trim he sticks on everything.

The country is going to pay a huge price for electing a man that doesn't respect education and science.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Trmp resents anyone who's smarter than him ... that includes a LOT of people. nt

[misanthrope]

4. Trump is keeping NASA going for simple reasons

Last edited Sat Apr 11, 2026, 12:19 PM - Edit history (1)

He has already tried to gut one very crucial aspect of it, the climate science research. That was increased over the last half-century as scientists began to heed the data and became rightly concerned that space exploration would be for naught if we destroy our civilization and ecosphere.

So why is Trump focused on the lunar program? Because his tech broligarch buddies are telling him to do it. Because they and other uber-capitalists believe there are boatloads of money to be made with the moon, from resource extraction, or simply contracts.

It isn't because anyone values knowledge for its own sake. It is because they value knowledge only if it leads to wealth.