President Donald Trump will receive the official flag of the Space Force at a White House ceremony Friday, where he is also set to declare May 15 “National Armed Forces Day,” the White House announced Thursday night.
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence initiated the Space Force in late 2019, saying it was critical that the U.S. expand its technological and military dominance into space. Trump will participate in the ceremony early Friday afternoon, according to a White House press release. (Vice President Pence Outlines The Pentagon’s Four Steps For Making The Space Force Happen)
Maybe your purpose on this planet isn’t on this planet.https://t.co/lr7tBQp775 pic.twitter.com/oHLgwcY2eq
— United States Space Force (@SpaceForceDoD) May 6, 2020
“Space is the world’s new war-fighting domain,” Trump said during the Space Force founding ceremony in December 2019. “Among grave threats to our national security, American superiority in space is absolutely vital. And we’re leading, but we’re not leading by enough, and very shortly we’ll be leading by a lot.”
The purpose of Space Force is not to garrison combat soldiers in space, but to organize and coordinate the U.S. military’s space-based assets, such as satellites. (RELATED: Democratic Witness In House Coronavirus Hearing Pleaded Guilty In 2019 Sex Abuse Case)
President Trump selected Air Force General Jay Raymond to serve as the first leader of the Space Force, which is organized under the Air Force.