U.S. Space Command could spend another 10 months in limbo after President Donald Trump spurned a full-press lobbying effort from Colorado and steered clear of a commitment.
The president wasn't off his plane before Colorado's Democratic Gov. Jared Polis got aboard to twist Trump's arm in a bid to keep the command that's temporarily housed at Peterson Air Force Base. Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers and Republican U.S. Rep Doug Lamborn tried their charms to win the command. No decision.
Trump did praise Colorado Springs while claiming his title as the father of the new Space Force that serves here.
- Ernest Luning ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
"You are being very strongly considered for the space command, very strongly," Trump told a capacity crowd of 10,000 inside The Broadmoor World Arena and hundreds more who stood outside in the cold to watch him on a screen set up for the event.
Trump said he will decide where to house the command by the end of 2020, possibly after the November election. The decision was originally due last summer, and the delay has gone unexplained by the Pentagon.
Trump's implied personal involvement in the decision is a rarity for the White House, which in the past two administrations has steered clear of basing decisions which are generally settled in the Pentagon.
Lisa Neifert, resident of Elizabeth, dances to the YMCA inside The Broadmoor World Arena before the start of President Donald Trump's Colorado Springs campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.(Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)
- Chancey Bush The Gazette
Beverly Smith, 70, resident of Cañon City, waits in line outside the Broadmoor World Arena before the start of President Donald Trump's Colorado Springs campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. "I'm a full Trump supporter," she said. (Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)
- Chancey Bush The Gazette
Manuel Loa, 22, middle, rests with his friends inside The Broadmoor World Arena before the start of President Donald Trump's Colorado Springs campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.(Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)
- Chancey Bush The Gazette
A Trump supporter stands in the isle inside the Broadmoor World Arena before the start of President Donald Trump's Colorado Springs campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.(Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)
- Chancey Bush The Gazette
Velma Slack, 86, resident of Denver, sits in a chair in line waiting for her group to catch up to her outside the Broadmoor World Arena before the start of President Donald Trump's Colorado Springs campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. (Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)
- Chancey Bush The Gazette
John Simpson, resident of Littleton, waits in line with thousands of others outside the Broadmoor World Arena before the start of President Donald Trump's Colorado Springs campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. (Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)
- Chancey Bush The Gazette
People look out the window and take photos at the crowd of people in line to get into the Broadmoor World Arena before the start of President Donald Trump's Colorado Springs campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.(Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)
- Chancey Bush The Gazette
A young girl stands on the stairs inside the Broadmoor World Arena before the start of President Donald Trump's Colorado Springs campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.(Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)
- Chancey Bush The Gazette
Tony Hernandez, resident of Colorado Springs, outside the Broadmoor World Arena before the start of President Donald Trump's Colorado Springs campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. (Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)
- Chancey Bush The Gazette
People look out the window and take photos at the crowd of people in line to get into the Broadmoor World Arena before the start of President Donald Trump's Colorado Springs campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.(Chancey Bush/The Gazette)
- Chancey Bush The Gazette
Velma Slack, 86, resident of Denver, sits in a chair in line waiting for her group to catch up to her outside the Broadmoor World Arena before the start of President Donald Trump's Colorado Springs campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. (Chancey Bush/The Gazette)
- Chancey Bush The Gazette
Air Force One lands at the Colorado Springs Airport with President Donald Trump while Air Force Two sits on the tarmac at Peterson Air Force Base Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, in Colorado Springs, Colo. The president and Vice President Mike Pence were in Colorado Springs for a rally at The Broadmoor World Arena. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, in stripped tie, waits on the tarmac at Peterson Air Force Base to talk to President Donald Trump after he arrived in Air Force One Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
- CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE
Air Force One lands at the Colorado Springs Airport with then-President Donald Trump while Air Force Two sits on the tarmac at Peterson Air Force Base in February 2020.
The Pentagon rated Peterson Air Force base at the bottom of the pack in its access to air transport and ability to handle distinguished visitors in a document justifying its decision to award U.S. Space Command to Alabama. In this image, both planes were at Peterson while Trump and Vice President Mike Pence campaigned in the Pikes Peak region.
- CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE
Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, second from the left, greets President Donald Trump Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, after he arrived in Air Force One at Peterson Air Force Base during his visit to Colorado Springs, Colo. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
- CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE
Vice President Michael Pence walks off the stage after speaking during a rally for President Donald Trump Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
- CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE
