Trump says he’ll pay out of his pocket overtime for formerly stranded astronauts

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Friday said he would pay out of his pockets the overtime for astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, who returned to Earth this week after spending nine months in space.

The two astronauts, who were supposed to be on an eight-day mission, spent 286 days in space — 278 days longer than anticipated after their spacecraft malfunctioned. While speaking with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump, when asked about the calculated overtime, said: “Nobody’s ever mentioned this to me. If I have to, I’ll pay it out of my own pocket.” PTI