Buzz Aldrin finally announces his support days before the presidential election

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The second man to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin, has endorsed former President Donald Trump for a second term.

In a lengthy statement Wednesday, the 94-year-old brigadier general said he was “impressed” by the first Trump administration's efforts to promote “human space exploration” and how it was “made a policy of high importance again.”

Aldrin said Trump has “reinvigorated” efforts to return to the moon and continue to Mars. The astronaut praised the Trump administration for reinstating the National Space Council “so that leading voices can advocate for the importance of space to America.”

He further claimed that U.S. defenses had been “strengthened” by the creation of the Space Force, saying that it would become “increasingly important as space becomes a contested domain.”

Aldrin also expressed excitement about the “great advances” in private space travel and called billionaire Elon Musk a “visionary.” Musk was a key part of the Trump campaign and a vocal supporter.

“We face serious and difficult realities in the global security landscape,” Aldrin added. “Domestically, we face significant economic challenges, stability in our communities and concerns about the rule of law. For these and other reasons, we need a proven, reputable and tested leader to serve as president.”

Aldrin noted that he believes Trump has the “understanding of human nature, clear judgment, determination, knowledge, understanding and calm under pressure” needed to lead the country.

“The job requires sober analysis of frightening scenarios and the instinct to lead with determination,” he said.

“For me, for the future of our nation, for meeting enormous challenges, and for the proven policy successes noted above, I believe the nation will be best served by voting for Donald J. Trump. I fully support him as President of the United States. Good luck, President Trump, and God bless the United States of America,” he concluded.

Born in 1930, Aldrin is the last surviving crew member of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, following the deaths of Michael Collins in 2021 and Neil Armstrong in 2012.

As a pilot on the Gemini 12 mission, he made three spacewalks in 1966, three years before the moon landing.

In 2019, Aldrin called on Trump to rename the Space Force to a less antagonistic name.

In June 2018, the new branch of the armed forces responsible for military operations in space was announced.

“I have thought for some time that a better name would be Space Guard because it is more deterrent,” Aldrin said Daily Mail at the time.

“It’s not a strike,” he added. “We have an attack force that is aggressive. “Space Guard” is more defensive and I think that’s broadly what people had in mind with the Space Force.”

But Aldrin said he believes the creation of the military branch is “a huge step in the right direction,” referring to the first words Armstrong said as he walked on the moon.