“We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.” These words from President Donald J. Trump’s inaugural address on Jan. 20, 2025 — repeated at the joint address to Congress on March 4 — echo the ambitious spirit of President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 “We choose to go to the Moon…” declaration at Rice University. Although the current administration’s plans remain unclear — and caution is warranted when interpreting a single sentence — it is noteworthy how both addresses aimed to fire up national pride and inspire...