In a groundbreaking announcement, President-elect Donald Trump has revealed a partnership with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to prioritize landing the first manned spacecraft on Mars within the next decade. This bold collaboration is set to leverage Musk’s technological expertise and the federal government’s resources to achieve a historic interplanetary milestone.

During a recent rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump, joined by Musk, declared his administration’s commitment to reaching Mars before the conclusion of his second term. Trump emphasized the importance of American leadership in space exploration, stating that this mission would mark a new era for U.S. innovation and global dominance in technology.

Musk, who endorsed Trump during the election campaign, has been a longstanding advocate for Mars colonization. Wearing his signature “Occupy Mars” T-shirt at the event, Musk reiterated SpaceX’s timeline for human missions to the Red Planet. According to Musk, the Starship rocket could launch its first uncrewed mission to Mars as early as 2026, with a crewed mission to follow by 2028.

In a surprising twist, Musk is also slated to take on an informal role in the Trump administration as the “Secretary of Cost Cutting.” While not an official cabinet appointment, Musk’s position will focus on streamlining government operations and reducing unnecessary expenditures, aligning with his entrepreneurial philosophy of efficiency.

This partnership is expected to accelerate NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon as a stepping stone for Mars exploration. By combining SpaceX’s advanced technology with federal support, the collaboration could reshape U.S. space policy and set new benchmarks for public-private partnerships.

The Trump-Musk partnership represents a bold step toward realizing humanity’s long-held dream of Mars exploration. If successful, this mission would mark a monumental achievement in space exploration and solidify the United States’ position as a leader in the modern space race.