Trump reveals Space Force HQ location, dismisses health speculation
Donald Trump’s first media appearance in seven days has silenced death rumours as he made a major US defence announcement.
An energetic Donald Trump has fronted the media for the first time in a week to announce the location of the new headquarters for the US Space Command, silencing unfounded speculation about his health.
Mr Trump announced Huntsville Alabama would become “Rocket City” as the new home of the US Space Force military headquarters, which will play a major role in the President’s ambition to build a Golden Dome missile defence system.
The White House had teased a big announcement and Mr Trump’s decision brings an end to the long-running dispute over where the military branch headquarters would be based.
The President announced Alabama as the location in his first term after establishing Space Force, but the Biden administration scrapped the decision and opted to keep Space Command in Colorado where it has been headquartered since the 1980s.
Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth welcomed the decision.
“We are way ahead in space, but this will ensure we stay leaps and bounds ahead because that’s the most important domain,” he said.
“Whoever controls the skies will control the future of warfare and Mr President, today you’re ensuring that happens.”
A reporter asked the President about viral social media videos over the American long-weekend speculating he was ill or had even died, asking Mr Trump: “How did you find out over the weekend that you were dead?”
Mr Trump said he had heard the rumours he wasn’t well but said he had a “very active” weekend, playing multiple rounds of golf.
The President slammed the rumours as “fake news” and pointed out his record for regularly fronting the press, far surpassing his predecessor Joe Biden whom he said “wouldn’t do them (press conferences) for months”.
The press conference began about 45 minutes later than scheduled and Mr Trump said he had come directly from a briefing about a military operation against a drug vessel coming out of Venezuela.
“We took it out,” he said, of the boat.
Asked for an update on the progress of a meeting between warring leaders Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, he said there would be more news in the coming days.
“I have learned things that will be very interesting,” he said.
“I think in the next few days, you’ll find out.”
Asked what the consequences would be if there was no meeting, he said “we’re going to see what happens”.
“We’re going to see what they do and what happens,” Mr Trump said.
“I’m watching it very closely.”
It comes as President Trump was expected to make an “exciting” announcement about the US Department of Defense (DoD), the White House said, days after Mr Trump said he planned to rename the DoD the Department of War.
“The President will be making an exciting announcement related to the Department of Defense,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier in a statement sent to AFP.
Ms Leavitt also gave no other details about what President Trump would say.
The event is Mr Trump’s first in public for a week and follows unfounded speculation about the US leader’s health.
In official photos, Mr Trump’s right hand appears to still be discoloured.
President Trump dubs himself a “peace president” and claims he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for ending at least six wars since returning to office - though Ukraine and Gaza ceasefires remain out of reach.
Despite that, he has said several times in recent weeks that he wanted to change the name to the Department of War, saying its current terminology was too “defensive.”
“That was the name when we won World War I, we won World War II, we won everything,” Mr Trump told reporters on August 25.
“’Defence’ is too defensive. We want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive too. We have to be. It just sounded to me better,” he added.
Mr Trump said he didn’t know if Congress had to approve a name change, but said he was sure legislators would go along with it if so.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also hinted at the coming change during a marathon cabinet meeting last week.
“It’s not just about words - it’s about the warrior ethos,” the military veteran and former Fox News contributor said, while adding: “We don’t want war, we don’t seek it. You are the peace president, sir.”
- with AFP
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