"We will expand our territories, build our cities, and reach new horizons, great horizons. And we will continue to send our astronauts to the stars, and these astronauts, these ships, these rockets will carry the stars and stripes [of the flag] of our country, especially to the planet Mars," said Trump.
The audience applauded, and the broadcast director zoomed in on the satisfied American billionaire Elon Musk, who owns, among other ventures, SpaceX, the company developing the Starship spacecraft for the journey to Mars.
"Ambition is the lifeblood of a great country, and that is what ours is," emphasized the U.S. president.
He also noted that American inventors and entrepreneurs "are always exploring new territories, they love new adventures."
At a campaign rally on October 5, 2024, then-presidential candidate Trump stated that the U.S. would "reach Mars" by the end of his presidential term if he is re-elected. Musk also spoke at the event, advocating for the colonization of Mars and planning to send spacecraft there.