Musk claims Biden delayed ISS astronauts' return 'for political reasons.'

Musk says SpaceX will accelerate the astronauts' return after delays he calls "ridiculous."

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Elon Musk has accused former US President Joe Biden of intentionally delaying the return of two American astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) for "political reasons."

“They were left up there for political reasons, which is not good,” Musk said during a joint interview with President Donald Trump on Fox News’ Sean Hannity Show on Tuesday night.

The world’s richest man, seated next to Trump, claimed that NASA’s decision to postpone the astronauts’ return was politically motivated.

Musk’s SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule was launched in September to retrieve the two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, after an issue with Boeing’s Starliner capsule left them unable to return. The spacecraft successfully docked at the ISS, but NASA opted to delay the return mission.

Musk told Hannity that the return had been postponed to an unreasonable degree. “At the president’s request, or instruction, we are accelerating the return of the astronauts,” he said, adding, “We have brought astronauts back from the space station many times before, and always with success.”

Trump echoed Musk’s criticism of Biden, alleging that the administration deliberately stalled the mission. “They didn’t have the go-ahead with Biden,” Trump said. “He was going to leave them in space. I think he was going to leave them in space … He didn’t want the publicity.”

Wilmore and Williams were originally scheduled to stay aboard the ISS for only eight days following their arrival in June 2023.

However, after 258 days, they remain aboard the space station as NASA awaits another SpaceX rescue vehicle, which is expected to arrive with replacement astronauts “no earlier than late March.”

NASA has not commented on Musk's latest remarks but previously stated that the extended stay was due to logistical challenges and the need for additional safety checks.

In December, NASA acknowledged that Wilmore and Williams would have to remain in orbit until a new crew arrived, requiring an unspecified handover period before their departure.

Despite Musk’s and Trump’s allegations, both astronauts have denied feeling stranded. Wilmore told CNN’s Anderson Cooper last month, “We don’t feel abandoned, we don’t feel stuck, we don’t feel stranded. I understand why others may think that.” Williams also noted that while the mission was longer than expected, “we’ve made the most of it.”

The interview, which was filmed last week at the White House, also focused on Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative, a proposal aimed at reducing federal spending.