Houston, We Have A Problem: Trump Seems To Think The Moon Is Part Of Mars?

TOPSHOT - A photo taken on May 13, 2019 shows a view of the moon in Cannes, southern France. - The Moon is steadily shrinking, causing wrinkling on its surface and quakes, according to an analysis of imagery captured... TOPSHOT - A photo taken on May 13, 2019 shows a view of the moon in Cannes, southern France. - The Moon is steadily shrinking, causing wrinkling on its surface and quakes, according to an analysis of imagery captured by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) published Monday May 13, 2019. (Photo by Laurent EMMANUEL / AFP) (Photo credit should read LAURENT EMMANUEL/AFP/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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President Donald Trump reeled off a Tweet Friday afternoon as mysterious as the dark side of the moon.

In it, he seems to state that the moon is part of Mars (TPM fact check: it is not).

To make matters even murkier, Trump seemed pretty gung-ho about going to the moon just a month ago.

It’s possible the President just meant that the moon is part of NASA’s mission to Mars. In December 2017 Trump signed a directive to send astronauts to the moon, with the goal of expanding the mission to Mars and potentially other parts of the solar system.

“The directive I am signing today will refocus America’s space program on human exploration and discovery,” Trump said of the directive. “It marks a first step in returning American astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972, for long-term exploration and use. This time, we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprints — we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars, and perhaps someday, to many worlds beyond.”

The President has long had a fascination with outer space, most recently asking Congress for $72.4 million to establish a sixth military branch called “Space Force.”

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