Did ex-astronaut Eileen Collins just snub Donald Trump in her convention speech?

Retired astronaut Eileen Collins calls for more space leadership

(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

published 21 July 2016

The introduction of retired astronaut Eileen Collins at Wednesday's convention was an inspirational video about America's space program (and the role convention host state Ohio played in it). Collins spoke a lot about the need to explore new places and frontiers, saying that "countries that are strong explore, invent, and discover to remain resilient in a changing world."

She closed with a call to action, sort of. "Nations that lead on the frontier, lead in the world," she said. "We need that visionary leadership again, leadership that will inspire the next generation of explorers to have that same passion" so "Americans will ask again, What's next? We need leadership that will make America's space program first again, and we need leadership that will make America great again." There was just one T left to be crossed. She didn't cross it.

According to Marketplace Weekend host Lizzie O'Leary, that was the place in the speech where she was supposed to drop in "that leader is Donald Trump." Maybe she can blame that on a malfunctioning teleprompter?

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.