Criticism has begun to emerge on social networks towards a new commemorative locomotive for the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The reason? Users on social networks realized that the locomotive is more dedicated to President Donald Trump than to the national commemoration itself.
The locomotive in question is number 4547, presented this week by the Union Pacific company.
The name of the locomotive refers to President Donald Trump, since he is the 45th and 47th president of the United States.
Jim Vena, CEO of Union Pacific, spoke on June 3 about the locomotive and said he was “proud to honor President Donald Trump with this commemorative machine by helping advance the Artemis III mission.”
The controversy and criticism grew even more when NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said on the X network that the locomotive was used to transport rocket components for the Artemis III mission, scheduled for 2027.
Isaacman noted that the Artemis program “had begun in Donald Trump’s first term.”
This caused users to question that a locomotive, supposedly linked to the United States anniversary, was dedicated specifically to President Trump.
The event also generated criticism from former NASA executives, such as Lori Garver, former deputy administrator of the space agency, who questioned the use of public resources to commemorate only the president.
“As a jewel in our nation’s crown, I look forward to celebrating NASA’s most significant accomplishments, not just the ones the current president wants ‘credit’ for starting,” Garver said on X.
Despite the controversy, Isaacman defended the locomotive and called it “a patriotic thing” to defend and recognize Trump.
“I understand if someone who served in a different Administration, from a different political party, might have a bias, but from my perspective, what Union Pacific is doing is patriotic,” he responded.
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