A Short History of Presidential Vacillation: Mars or the Moon

Almost two years ago, with no regard for safety precautions or protocol, President Donald Trump faced the sun head-on. As the rest of us watched the solar eclipse through specially purchased glasses or cereal boxes outfitted with X-acto-knifed slots, President Trump squinted unblinkingly into the bright, unfiltered sunlight and emerged unscathed. Then, on Friday, he came for the moon.

Less than three months ago, Vice President Mike Pence announced that the Trump administration’s goal of sending a crew to the moon by 2028 would be accelerated by four years; in the past month, the president has said that he wants an additional $1.6 billion dedicated to that aim. But in a tweet sent Friday afternoon, the president chastised NASA for doing exactly the job