Donald Trump declared over the weekend that the Moon belongs to the United States, sharing the claim in a series of Truth Social posts alongside other unusual content.
What Trump posted
On Sunday, Trump shared an image of the Moon with the words "The Moon is Ours" emblazoned across it. Minutes earlier, he'd posted what appeared to be new design concepts for US Space Force uniforms, featuring a dark colour palette of space grey, midnight black, silver grey, and satin black, along with shoulder and collar insignia. In the same posting flurry, he also shared an image of a map of New Mexico with the state's name crossed out and replaced with "America," though it remains unclear whether there are any actual plans behind the post.
Why this contradicts international law
The claim runs directly against the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, signed by the US and more than 100 other countries, which explicitly states that outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, cannot be claimed as national territory by any means, including occupation or use. The US has never legally asserted ownership of the Moon, and no country can under current international law.
Part of a wider pattern
The post follows a series of similar territorial gestures from Trump in recent weeks, including a formal move to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America" amid an escalating trade dispute with Canada, announced from the Oval Office in late August.
Reaction online
The posts drew swift reaction on social media, with many users comparing the new Space Force uniform designs to imperial military aesthetics from Star Wars, and others reacting with a mix of amusement and disbelief at the Moon claim itself.
