The Republican leader seeks to boost his image ahead of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

On Wednesday, Union Pacific Railroad unveiled the commemorative locomotive No. 4547, explicitly dedicated to President Donald Trump, as part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

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The number refers to the fact that Trump is the 45th and 47th president of the country, and Jim Vena, the company’s CEO, stated that he was proud to honor him with this commemorative engine.

The locomotive was used to transport components for NASA’s Artemis III rocket mission, scheduled for 2027, which generated controversy by linking a national anniversary and a space program to the figure of a single president.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman defended the initiative, noting that the Artemis program began during Trump’s first term, although he acknowledged that there may be political bias in the perception of this tribute.

Criticism arose on social media and among former NASA officials, such as Lori Garver, former deputy administrator, who questioned the use of public resources to associate the agency’s achievements with a specific president.

Garver pointed out that NASA is a “crown jewel of the nation” and that its missions span multiple administrations, so they should be celebrated as collective achievements and not as individual merits.

The Artemis project envisions the second crewed mission to the Moon in 2027 and two astronaut missions to its surface in 2028, with the goal of establishing a permanent base.

The locomotive is part of a series of initiatives promoted by Trump to bolster his ts image during the 250th anniversary commemoration, which includes a special passport, a coin, and a US$250 bill featuring his image.

teleSUR: JP

Source: EFE

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