This is not a drill — NASA’s Artemis II has launched and is bound for the moon — sending four astronauts into a deep space lunar flyby mission for the first time in over 50 years. The jubilant mood was reflected everywhere on social media. Well, almost everywhere except the post shared by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
We’re going around the Moon. Come watch with us. Artemis II’s four-astronaut crew is lifting off from @NASAKennedy on an approximately 10-day mission that will bring us closer to living on the Moon and Mars. The launch window opens at 6:24pm ET (2224 UTC). https://t.co/X27QJejNDt
— NASA (@NASA) April 1, 2026
Newsom took a swipe at President Donald Trump’s post celebrating the Artemis II launch. The California Governor shared a receipt showing that Trump’s proposed budget sought to cut NASA by ~25%, but was ‘saved’ by bipartisan pushback.
Accompanying the image, Gavin Newsom wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “While Trump gloats about NASA today and this historic endeavor, reminder that his budget tried to cut NASA by ~25% and was only saved because of bipartisan pushback to such a backwards looking effort.”
What was meant to be a post slamming Trump backfired, with a section of the Internet schooling Newsom. “You want to lecture on NASA budgets when California’s own economy is going down the drain, buddy?” an X user questioned.
Another one added, “Historic day…What can I do to make it about myself (Newsom) instead of the astronauts and the mission?” Another netizen wrote, “How’s California’s rail system doing and where is the money for it?”
Inputs from another netizen, “Yes, and your budget tried cutting essential safety net services 3 months into COVID and was only saved because of the California Legislature. Y’all are a different wing to the same bird.”
While Trump gloats about NASA today and this historic endeavor, reminder that his budget tried to cut NASA by ~25% and was only saved because of bipartisan pushback to such a backwards looking effort. https://t.co/spYezWs0TZ pic.twitter.com/9ut5DvPd04
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) April 1, 2026
Ahead of the launch, an excited Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Tonight at 6:24 P.M. EST, for the first time in over 50 YEARS, America is going back to the Moon.”
The President boasted about America winning across spheres and added, “Artemis II, among the most powerful rockets ever built, is launching our Brave Astronauts farther into Deep Space than any human has EVER gone. We are WINNING, in Space, on Earth, and everywhere in between — Economically, Militarily, and now, BEYOND THE STARS. Nobody comes close!”
Giving a shout-out to NASA in his Truth Social entry, Trump wrote, “America doesn’t just compete, we DOMINATE, and the whole World is watching,” he added. “God bless our incredible Astronauts, God bless NASA, and God bless the Greatest Nation ever to exist, the United States of America!”
“Tonight at 6:24 P.M. EST, for the first time in over 50 YEARS, America is going back to the Moon! Artemis II, among the most powerful rockets ever built, is launching our Brave Astronauts farther into Deep Space than any human has EVER gone. We are WINNING, in Space, on Earth,… pic.twitter.com/UQ9Od98zdm
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 1, 2026
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security also shared a post, referencing Artemis II. The photo featured a graphic of a moon with the text “Fly to the moon for free” printed on it. The caption accompanying the DHS post read, “This April 1st, we kindly ask all aliens to GO HOME. #ArtemisII #TheyAreGoingBack.” The post was widely slammed by netizens.
NASA summed up the big Artemis II mission with these words in a social media entry,” LIFTOFF. The Artemis II mission launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 6:35pm ET (2235 UTC), propelling four astronauts on a journey around the Moon. Artemis II will pave the way for future Moon landings, as well as the next giant leap — astronauts on Mars.”
