Astronaut Buzz Aldrin endorses Donald Trump for president less than one week before election

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the last surviving crew member of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, endorsed former President Donald Trump on Wednesday, less than one week before the presidential election on Nov. 5.

"Over the years, I have seen our government's approach to space wax and wane, a fluctuating dynamic that has disappointed me from time to time. But under the first Trump Administration, I was impressed to see how human space exploration was elevated, made a policy of high importance again," Aldrin said in a statement.

"Under President Trump's first term, America saw a revitalized interest in space. His Administration reignited national efforts to get back to the Moon, and push on to Mars – programs that continue today," he added.

Aldrin also applauded the Trump Administration for bringing back the National Space Council.

"Finally, under President Trump, the Nation's defense was enhanced with the creation of the U.S. Space Force– increasingly important as space becomes a contested domain," he said. "At the same time, I have been enthused and excited by the great advancements in the private sector space economy, led by visionaries like Elon Musk.  These are concrete accomplishments that align with my concerns and America's policy priorities."