TRANSCRIPT: President Trump Calls the International Space Station from Houston - 8.28.26
[VIDEO]
President Trump: Tomorrow is going to be a big day. Tomorrow --
Note: [Audio too faint for transcription]
Trump: -- we just opened an academy that's going to be the equivalent of the best. I'd say a level of West Point Air Force [Inaudible] maybe [Inaudible] could be next level. Yes, sir, I'm going to do it. I said if I'm going to do it, it has to be at that level. Better than Space Force because [Inaudible] pretty soon, right?
Trump: Very excited. So, everybody wants it.
Unidentified: I suspect a lot of members of Congress will be giving you a call [Inaudible]
Trump: Fine, give me a call. I just want to thank everybody; this is a fantastic day. I had no idea -- I understand this is the first president who [Inaudible] geniuses and at a point like this. But I just want to thank you. You do a fantastic job. I'm very proud of Jared, the other son, incredible. He was recommended by everybody.
Trump: Everybody wanted him -- Republican, Democrat, I even had an independent -- who [Inaudible] haven't spoken to him in a long time. But it's a great honor; what you do is incredible. And you have a lot of interesting things happening. And I was taken, I think, it was very important that I said, because we're talking about space link You're also playing a very big part in the military, both defense and offense.
Trump: And so, what you're doing is -- a lot of people don't realize that, but what you're doing is very important. We appreciate it. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Note: [Audio gap]
Unidentified: Station, this is Houston; are you ready for the event?
Jessica Meir: Houston, this is station. We are ready for the event.
Trump: This is a great honor, to be with you is a great honor and I just want to thank Jessica, Anil, Jack, great Americans, great patriots, brave people. I wouldn't do it. I will tell you right now, I hate to admit it, I would not want to do it, but some people love it more than anything. And you have amazing courage and the job you've done, even to be selected, along with your fellow compatriots, you have some very good friends on board too, from different places.
Trump: And I don't know if they're hearing us, but just welcome them also. But I just want to congratulate you and today, you know, we announced a very big thing because we're going to do a very special academy. And whether it's West Point, Annapolis, the Coast Guard Academy, if you look at the Air Force Academy, we're going to have an academy for what you people do, everybody in this room would be excited, and it'll be at the same level.
Trump: I said, it has to be at the same level. If we're going to do it, it has to be at that very high level. Those are among the hardest schools to get into in the whole country. I would say almost at the top, and that's what we want. So we're going to set that up and we'll remember this day for that. And I didn't realize that when I announced it,