Young People See Oshikatsu Fandom as Way to Enrich Personal Life

The practice of oshikatsu, vigorously expressing fandom for a musician or other entertainer, or even a fictional character or inanimate target of support, is nothing rare in Japan, with nearly 30% of working-age people—and around half of those in their twenties—taking part.

Oshikatsu refers to activities that people do to support their favorite idol or object, such as an entertainer, athlete, or other celebrity, an anime or game character, or even an inanimate target of affection like a particular railway line. These activities range widely, from attending events to purchasing goods.

Oshikatsu is a Japanese term for the activities fans engage in to support their favorite person, character, or thing. The word combines "oshi" (推し), meaning "one who is supported," and "katsu" (活), meaning "activity". Oshikatsu can involve buying merchandise, attending concerts or events, sharing content online, and creating fan art, and it extends beyond idols to include characters, athletes, and even hobbies like trains or food. 

Now it’s time to measure oshikatsu, but who will and who can ? That is where Fandometrics™️ comes in….

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The full research report: Read Here

Nippon.com / Mynavi Inc.

How Deloitte and AWS Use AI to Study Fandom for Insights on Consumer Behavior

The growth and productivity-unleashing potential of AI-powered tech systems and software was the talk of the Croisette during this month’s Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. Much of the programming was dedicated to helping marketers, content creators and media mavens navigate what is possible now and what is coming around the corner.

Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast did its part with a live podcast taping in Cannes at The Room’s Yacht on June 18, with a conversation focused on the Converge by Deloitte service as the analytics giant expands that service to focus on sports consumers. Michelle McGuire, principal and chief commercial officer of Converge by Deloitte, and Ruba Borno, VP, global specialists and partners of Amazon’s AWS, joined us on a yacht docked just off the Palais des Festivals for a live recording of a conversation about how the two brands have worked, together and separately, on initiatives like Converge that harness AI.

When it comes to targeting sports-friendly consumers, what marketers covet most is “that Venn diagram of the team, the league and your own brand,” McGuire said. Converge synthesizes a staggering amount of data and input to offer highly custom profiles for sports fans at a granular level.

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Variety

Fandom Attracts Players, Top Mechanics Keep Them Hooked

Fandom and Nostalgia-driven slot games tap into familiar themes, but success depends on strong gameplay mechanics and modern features.

Casinos are famous for choosing to focus on versatility when curating their collection of slots. Online libraries hosting thousands of titles usually cover anything and everything, from games with unique graphics to titles featuring pioneering mechanics and big jackpots. 

However, a specific category stands out in particular. We are talking about games that evoke nostalgia, inspired by iconic stars, shows, and TV series. 

Reminiscing Fond Memories

“It’s a way to connect with people who have fond memories from years ago and now you can experience that same nostalgia on a slot machine,” explained Light & Wonder’s director of product management, Brett Colbert in an interview for CDC Gaming. 

Colbert went on to say it’s a matter of “remembering good times, whether it’s your favorite movie, character, book or show,” with the visuals and the music playing a crucial role in “stimulating that part of the brain.”

Nostalgia-driven themes often come from well-known brands, including celebrities like Dean Martin and Dolly Parton, beloved TV game shows like Wheel of Fortune and Press Your Luck, and hit movies and TV shows such as Jumanji and Game of Thrones. 

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Melanie Porter / Gambling News

Special Report: China’s Sports Fandom - The formation mechanism of the “sports fandom circle” in the digital media era

The rise of the “sports fandom circle” has become a significant phenomenon in the digital media era, reshaping the emotional and social dynamics of sports fan communities. This study employs grounded theory methodology to analyze web-scraped data from 40 selected accounts on major Chinese social media platforms [Weibo, Xiaohongshu, and Bilibili] over a two-year period. These accounts were identified based on their focus on celebrity athletes [e.g., Fan Zhendong, Sun Yingsha, Wang Chuqin] and their engagement in fan-specific activities such as support, fan clubs, and voting. The analysis involved open coding, axial coding, and selective coding to construct an emotional interaction model. Our findings reveal that international sports events serve as emotional catalysts, where competition, nationalism, and athlete narratives trigger fans’ emotional arousal. Digital media platforms, including spatiotemporal extension, virtualization, and selectivity, amplify these emotions, fostering proximal emotional attachment to athletes. Through symbolic interactions and digital consumption, fans transition from individual engagement to collective emotional aggregation, solidifying their sense of group identity. However, in the reproduction process, the anonymity of digital media platforms can lead to emotional polarization, intensifying conflicts among fan groups, or facilitate emotional resocialization, fostering more rational and inclusive fandom behaviors. This study provides a theoretical framework for understanding the emotional evolution of sports fandom in the digital media era and offers practical insights for managing online fan communities, mitigating conflicts, and promoting a healthier digital sports culture.

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Yuan Cheng, Yin Wu / Creative Commons Attribution License, / PLOS One

The Cost of Fandom: Ally Bank Finds Sports Fans Breaking the Bank for the Love of the Game

Spending fueled by passion, not planning: 57% of sports fans admit to overspending, yet 85% report having no dedicated savings set aside for expressions of fandom

Nearly 7 in 10 fans (67%) say spending on women's sports has increased or stayed the same, with Gen Z and millennials especially viewing their women's sports fandom as a reflection of personal values.

Sports fans are spending for the love of the game in Ally Bank's newest report, The Cost of Fandom. The report reveals millennials lead the way in spending at $2,050 per year on fan related activities, compared to $1,550 for Gen Z. For many Gen Zers, the combination of high costs and low savings also means cutting back on spending in other areas, such as eating out less, to afford supporting their favorite teams.

Ally's findings highlight the strong emotional ROI of being a sports fan, signaling a prioritization of entertainment, community and identity over budgeting for these costs. Roughly 1 in 3 millennials (33%) and Gen Z (31%) said their sports spending makes them feel connected — underscoring the community connection among sports fans. The way men and women are spending their money to support their favorite sports teams differ, with women favoring social fandom and men leaning toward high-spend, experiential fandom.

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The Full Report is available here

Ally Financial Inc

The Language of Fandom

Professor Venkata S. Govindarajan studies how language reflects the ups and downs of professional sports fandom. If you’re a fan of sports, you’ve almost certainly engaged in passionate discussions and debates with your favorite team’s fellow supporters during a game.

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Professor Venkata S. Govindarajan, Ithaca College

Unlocking the growing power of Latino fans: Building a stronger sports economy

The US sports economy is booming, and Latino fans are leading the charge. Connecting with this multifaceted community can help drive growth opportunities. The sports economy is experiencing a dynamic period of growth, driven by expanding fan bases, evolving media platforms, and increasing investment. As the broader sports ecosystem evolves, so does Latino fandom and its emerging role in shaping the future of sports.

Across stadiums, screens, and social platforms, Latinos represent the future of sports fandom in America. Young, passionate, digitally fluent, and willing to spend, this fan group embodies the habits and expectations of tomorrow’s audience. With ties to professional leagues, community clubs, and recreational sports, Latino fans are a powerful force that drives ticket sales, streaming, and media consumption at scale. And as members of one of the fastest-growing and most diverse demographic segments in the United States, these fans have an influence that is only accelerating. Despite this potential, the richness of Latino fandom is often overlooked by media, marketers, and sports teams. Latino fans represent an audience that is not only growing quickly but also highly engaged across multiple channels and communities. For businesses, reaching Latino fans is an economic imperative, a smart growth strategy, and a way to build a stronger sports community.

“Nielsen research reveals that Latinos are 54 percent more likely than non-Latinos to consume sports content on WhatsApp, 37 percent more likely on TikTok, and 33 percent more likely on Instagram relative to the general population, illustrating a preference for fast-paced, interactive, and social formats over traditional broadcast television viewing.”

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McKinsey / McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility

The Frontline of Influence: Why Fandom Marketing Is Winning Modern Wars

The Rise of Fandom Marketing in Wartime

In modern conflicts, fan communities have emerged as a surprising strategic asset. These are not traditional propaganda mills, but organic groups of supporters, “superfans,” and citizen-activists rallying around a cause or a nation.

Identifying, measuring, and activating these fans on both sides of a conflict is proving valuable on today’s digital battlefield. When official communication channels are cut off or distrusted, fandom-driven networks fill the gap by sharing information, boosting morale, and shaping narratives from the ground up. The emotional intensity and loyalty found in fan communities, which have long been harnessed in music, sports, and entertainment, are now powering wartime resilience and influence in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

Fans as Force Multipliers for Resilience and Influence

Fandom dynamics provide unique advantages for military and defence communications:

• Psychological Resilience: Grassroots fan engagement helps civilian communities endure trauma and uncertainty. War-related marketing activism, from humorous memes to symbolic merchandise, boosts morale and strengthens community resilience if it’s seen as authentic civic action rather than a sales ploy (ama.org). Such fan-driven actions give people hope and pride, showing “how the community can progress from survival to creativity and growth, and ultimately to recovery” (ama.org). In other words, fandom marketing offers pathways of resilience during war, helping people mentally move from mere survival toward optimism and eventual rebuilding.

• Narrative Control: Fan communities serve as influence multipliers that can outmanoeuvre traditional propaganda. Thousands of self-motivated supporters can flood social networks with their side’s story, controlling the narrative when official channels alone cannot. Unlike one-way propaganda, this is a many-to-many dynamic; fans create, share, and adapt content in real-time. Their messages often carry a ring of authenticity that outperforms generic messaging. For example, when adversaries spread disinformation, an army of fans can collectively fact-check, mock, or drown out those falsehoods. The result is a form of narrative dominance arising from the grassroots: a story told with the community, not just to it.

• Collective Identity and Unity: Fandom marketing in war builds a shared identity that unites diverse supporters under common symbols and language. This collective identity, whether it’s a hashtag, a mascot, or an iconic meme, fosters a sense of solidarity. In practice, supporters rally around inside jokes and symbols that only “the in-group” fully understands, reinforcing camaraderie. That unity is more than feel-good sentiment; it’s a strategic asset. A population that feels bonded by a common cause is more resistant to enemy psychological operations and more committed to supporting the war effort in the long run.

• Community-Driven Influence Campaigns: Perhaps most importantly, fandom marketing enables bottom-up influence campaigns. In contrast to top-down propaganda, these campaigns are community-driven and therefore agile and adaptive. Key community participants (the “superfans”) often act as micro-influencers who can sway their peers and mobilize action quickly. Because messages travel through trusted peer networks, they can penetrate audiences that would tune out official statements. In environments where government or media are mistrusted, people still trust content from friends, favorite influencers, or grassroots movements. By measuring fan sentiment and activating passionate supporters, defense organizations can run influence campaigns that feel organic, aligning with the community’s voice and values, which makes them far more persuasive than state-issued broadcasts.

Fandom in Action: Ukraine, the Middle East, and Beyond

Real-world conflicts have already demonstrated the power of fandom dynamics:

• Ukraine’s “Army of Fans”: In Ukraine’s defence against invasion, fan-driven activism has been a game changer. A standout example is NAFO (North Atlantic Fella Organization), a volunteer online collective that uses Shiba Inu dog memes to counter Russian propaganda (news.sky.com). This rowdy “fandom” of Ukraine supporters has hounded Russian officials on Twitter, swarming them with witty replies and cartoon dog avatars, effectively mocking and neutralizing disinformation (news.sky.com). Beyond the jokes, NAFO’s grassroots energy translated into real impact: the community raised over $1 million for Ukraine’s defense, funding equipment and supplies for frontline units (news.sky.com). It also kept the war in the global spotlight when fatigue might have set in. What started as one person’s meme turned into a worldwide movement endorsed by high-profile figures, even officials like the UK’s defence secretary and Estonia’s prime minister have engaged with the NAFO community. Ukraine’s cause thus gained an information warrior tribe, not through government decree, but through fans’ passion and creativity. Another example is the Saint Javelin initiative, born from a viral meme of a saintly figure holding an anti-tank missile. It evolved into a charity brand that has raised millions for Ukraine, using war memes and pop culture references to rally international support while uplifting spirits. As Saint Javelin’s team described, they carefully curate content “to raise the spirits of both Ukrainians and foreigners who support Ukraine” and avoid anything that could discourage the community (thefix.media). This strategy of blending humor, cultural cues, and authentic storytelling has drawn in a global audience and kept them emotionally invested in Ukraine’s struggle. Together, these cases show how fan-driven marketing activism boosts resilience and aid: soldiers get gear, civilians get hope, and the world hears Ukraine’s narrative unfiltered through fans’ voices.

• Middle East Digital Activism: In recent Middle East conflicts, we see both sides leveraging community influence in unprecedented ways. During the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, digital communities became a frontline of their own. Israeli agencies, facing distrust of official narratives, even turned to popular creators for help, going so far as to pay networks of influencers (a campaign code-named the “Esther Project”) to promote Israel’s perspective on social media (newarab.com). This highlights how crucial online fandom and followings are considered for shaping global opinion. On the other side, Palestinian activists and citizen journalists in Gaza embraced social platforms to bypass traditional media and share raw realities. Individuals like Motaz Azaiza, Bisan Owda, and others livestreamed scenes of suffering and resilience straight to millions of phones worldwide (theguardian.com). These grassroots voices, often young “superfans” of the truth, built massive followings virtually overnight. Their on-the-ground reports and heartfelt posts created a narrative of human impact that cut through state propaganda. As one observer noted, politicians might “gaslight the world with fake facts, but the voices of activists, amplified through social media, are making an indelible mark”. In effect, authentic content from community members beat out official spin, swaying international public sentiment and fueling humanitarian advocacy. Even the Israeli military recognized the importance of direct fan engagement, the Israel Defence Forces opened up new channels (like a dedicated Discord server and interactive social media updates) to give supporters real-time information and a sense of participation in the cause. Across the Middle East, from diaspora networks rallying on Twitter to local communities on WhatsApp sharing updates, the fandom approach, passionate, peer-to-peer communication, proved more adaptable and credible than old-school state media.

• Allied Defence Efforts: Allied militaries and defence organizations are also tapping into fan culture. NATO and U.S. defence teams have collaborated with content creators and popular military bloggers (“milbloggers”) to humanize their missions and build trust (fandomiq.ai). By encouraging service members and supporters to share personal stories, photos, or even memes, these organizations cultivate micro-fandoms around their units and technology. For instance, Western defence suppliers saw unexpected “fan clubs” emerge around specific equipment supplied to Ukraine, the Javelin missile, Bayraktar drone, and HIMARS rocket system, each became internet-famous, with songs, memes and merchandise celebrating their battlefield prowess. This fan enthusiasm translated into stronger public support for continued aid, as the weapons were not just tools but pop culture icons symbolizing resistance. Military communicators have taken note: embracing fans’ excitement can bolster domestic and international backing for defence initiatives in ways formal briefings never could. The pattern is clear: whether by design or by organic happenstance, those who harness fan-driven narratives gain a strategic edge in maintaining popular support and momentum in conflict.

Fandom Marketing vs. Propaganda: Authenticity Is the Key

It’s important to distinguish fandom marketing from traditional propaganda. Both seek to influence hearts and minds, but their methods and credibility diverge sharply:

• Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up: Propaganda is typically a top-down, state-driven broadcast. It often carries the hollow ring of officialdom, aiming to manufacture consent for government interests. In contrast, fandom marketing is bottom-up. It grows from the community, from fans who are genuinely invested, making the messaging more relatable and trustworthy. People rally behind narratives that feel authentic to their experiences and values, not slogans imposed by authorities.

• Manipulation vs. Empowerment: Propaganda often relies on coercive persuasion, twisting facts or spreading half-truths to push a desired belief. Fandom-driven campaigns, on the other hand, thrive on authentic engagement and empowerment. The goal isn’t to deceive the audience, but to galvanize them. Fans participate voluntarily: they create art, share stories, fact-check lies, and support each other. The sense of ownership in the message means fan communities can admit nuance or adjust their approach without losing credibility, whereas propaganda’s rigid talking points can shatter when challenged by reality. Crucially, authenticity is the currency of fandom marketing. As research from wartime Ukraine shows, marketing activism only strengthens resilience when it’s “perceived as authentic actions of citizenship rather than pursuit of sales” (ama.org) (or self-interest). Fans can spot inauthentic attempts a mile away; any brand or government that tries to astroturf a fan movement purely for profit or manipulation risks backlash. Thus, successful wartime fan engagement requires honesty and respect for the community’s intelligence. It’s less “convincing people to believe us” and more “empowering people to tell our shared story.”

• Static Messaging vs. Dynamic Storytelling: Propaganda typically pushes a fixed narrative, a one-size-fits-all message repeated broadly. Fandom-driven communications are dynamic and adaptive. Fan communities act like living organisms, sensing the information environment and quickly iterating on memes and messages. When one approach falters, fans tweak it or crowdsource a better idea. The narrative is co-created in real time, which often makes it more culturally resonant and harder for adversaries to predict or counter. This agility is especially valuable in fast-moving conflict situations where public sentiment can swing quickly. Fandom marketing listens and responds to the crowd, whereas propaganda talks at the crowd. In sum, fandom marketing leverages truth, transparency, and community creativity, making it a resilient, self-correcting influence mechanism, whereas propaganda built on lies can crumble under scrutiny.

Real-Time Fan Intelligence: Measuring and Activating Fandom

To fully unlock fandom marketing’s strategic value, defence organizations are turning to new tools and analytics. Platforms like FandomIQ have emerged to translate fan energy into actionable intelligence. FandomIQ, for instance, uses AI-powered analytics to identify and score genuine fan communities in real time. By mapping emotional alignment, influence flows, and sentiment clusters, such tools let strategists see where the passionate pockets of support (or opposition) are, and how they evolve day by day. This capability is a game-changer on the digital battlefield: what gets measured gets managed.

Armed with fan intelligence data, communications teams can activate supporters more effectively and align narratives more precisely. They can discover which messages resonate best with core fan groups, then amplify those narratives for maximum virality and psychological impact. They can also pre-test critical messages in closed fan communities, essentially focus-grouping propaganda or morale boosts with a receptive audience, to gauge effectiveness before broadcasting widely. This minimizes the risk of tone-deaf campaigns. Real-time tracking means they can spot shifts in public sentiment or emerging rumors early, enabling rapid counter-messaging or reinforcement as needed. In practice, a platform like FandomIQ enables a more surgical approach to influence operations: rather than blanketing the infosphere blindly, defence organizations can engage the right fan networks with the right content at the right time. As FandomIQ describes it, this is about “owning the digital battlefield with precision-targeted fandom intelligence”. Modern conflicts may well be won or lost in the information domain, and precision data on fan communities provides a new tactical advantage in that fight.

Crucially, these tools also help maintain authenticity and trust. By analyzing genuine fan discourse, strategists can ensure their narrative campaigns align with the community’s values and language. The result is messaging that feels organic and “fandom-validated” (often outperforming canned talking points). Additionally, real-time fan metrics can inform post-conflict efforts: measuring community sentiments aids in designing trust-building campaigns for stabilization and reconstruction, tapping into emotional undercurrents to heal divisions. In essence, platforms like FandomIQ are turning fan passion into a science, combining human psychology with data analytics, to keep a finger on the pulse of the populace. For government agencies, military psy-ops units, and even defence contractors concerned with public support, this means decisions can be driven by live community insights, not guesswork.

Conclusion: Embracing Fan Communities for Strategic Advantage

In the age of digital warfare, fandom marketing is not a gimmick; it’s a strategic necessity. We have entered an era when a meme can be as mighty as a missile in shaping outcomes. Governments and defence organizations that learn to engage authentically with fan communities will command a new kind of power: the power to rally nations from the ground up, to inoculate people against demoralization, and to crowdsource truth in the face of lies. This approach differs fundamentally from old propaganda; it’s more honest, more resilient, and ultimately more effective because it harnesses the energy people want to give.

The recent examples from Ukraine, the Middle East, and allied efforts show that fans can be force multipliers for truth and morale. They are the volunteers translating messages into many languages, the enthusiasts splicing war footage into viral TikToks, the donors turning internet points into bullets and bandages. Their creativity and conviction are a resource no military commander can order into existence, but with the right outreach, it can be inspired and guided. By investing in fan intelligence and community activation platforms, defence strategists can bridge the gap between officialdom and the public. They gain the ability to measure the heartbeat of the conflict in real time and to reinforce it where it’s strongest.

In practical terms, embracing fandom marketing means building narrative alliances with your most passionate supporters. It means valuing the memes, the hashtags, the fan art and forums as much as the press releases and speeches. The payoff is a more engaged home front, a more sympathetic global audience, and an information environment where your message not only reaches people, it resonates with them. As one NATO official quipped regarding an online fan movement, “I salute you, #Fellas” (news.sky.com). That salute was well-earned, and it underscores a pivotal truth: in modern warfare, it’s not just whose army wins, but whose story wins. By activating authentic fan communities, battlefield-aligned organizations can ensure their story wins, winning not by coercion but by capturing hearts and minds through community, authenticity, and passion. In war’s new digital arena, fandom may indeed be the most underutilized weapon in the arsenal, and one that democratic societies can wield to outshine the rigid propaganda of their adversaries.

For supporting research on Fandom Marketing in the Modern Digital Battlefield, please explore The American Marketing Association Report: The Role of War-Related Marketing Activism Actions in Community Resilience: From the Ground in Ukraine

In modern warfare, your fans are your frontline.

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FAQ

What is “fandom marketing” and how is it different from propaganda?
Fandom marketing harnesses the passion and creativity of genuine communities to spread messages organically. It grows from the bottom up, as fans co‑create memes, art, and stories that reflect their own values and experiences. Propaganda, by contrast, is typically broadcast from a central authority and often relies on repetitive slogans or biased information. Because fandom marketing is authentic and adaptive, it tends to be more engaging and credible than traditional top‑down messaging.

How have fan communities like NAFO and Saint Javelin shaped modern conflicts?
Fan‑driven movements have become powerful “force multipliers” in today’s digital conflicts. The North Atlantic Fella Organization (NAFO) started as a meme project supporting Ukraine and quickly turned into a grassroots fundraising engine, selling cartoon dog avatars and merchandise to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Ukrainian defence. Similarly, the Saint Javelin meme evolved into a charity brand, turning humour and pop culture references into millions of dollars for humanitarian aid. Beyond raising funds, these communities keep public attention focused on conflicts and boost morale by providing a sense of global solidarity.

Why is authenticity essential for wartime fandom marketing and resilience?
Audiences are quick to dismiss messages that feel insincere or self‑serving, especially during war. Authentic fan‑led campaigns tap into shared emotions and culture, helping people cope with trauma and maintain hope. These campaigns work because participants feel a sense of ownership over the narrative. In contrast, campaigns that pay influencers to repeat official talking points can backfire, as they are often perceived as manipulative. When fans tell their own stories, the messaging is more credible and adaptable, reinforcing community resilience and countering disinformation.

How does real‑time fan intelligence (like FandomIQ™’s Fandometrics™) work?
Platforms like FandomIQ™’s Fandometrics™ use artificial intelligence to identify and measure genuine fandom & fans, measure their engagement, and predict how communities will evolve. The signals are scored to create a single measure of “fanness,” which can be tracked over time. By decoding fan communities and delivering predictive insights, real‑time fan intelligence helps organizations test content quickly, choose the most resonant messages, and build stronger relationships with their most passionate supporters.

Whitepaper: SportFive - How Sponsors Can Better Understand U.S. Soccer Fandom.

Brands have been told to "get ready" for the world's biggest sporting event. But interested parties should do so right now. A great way for them to start is by exploring SPORTFIVE's latest whitepaper, which delves into how brands and sponsors can better understand the unique nature of U.S. soccer fans and ultimately emerge victorious during this once-in-a-generation spectacle.

130 million people in the United States identify as soccer fans, but they are unlike any other demographic in the sporting world.

To better understand this large group of people, seven unique personas have emerged out of SPORTFIVE’s research. These seven personas exist across a spectrum, with some people’s fandom leaning toward "Sport-First" while others tilt towards "Culture-First." SPORTFIVE has segmented these personas across this spectrum, showing why they're fans and how they interact with the sport.

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SPORTFIVE

The grief of a fandom: on Starship, Musk and losing the spark

SpaceX recently launched its 10th Starship flight from Starbase in South Texas. This proved to be the most successful Starship flight yet, with the vehicle making a (mostly) intact water landing. Starship is the most powerful heavy-lift launch vehicle ever built and it’s making some progress amid numerous high-profile failures and one test stand explosion this year.

“We cannot ignore [Elon, SpaceX’s CEO] Musk. He’s trying to be all cute on Twitter with his ‘I’m a scientist again!’ cosplay.” (Emily Carney)

Musk’s damage to United States space policy is likely to be long-lasting and permanent. While Musk was heading DOGE, the Trump administration proposed slashing NASA’s budget by 25%, ending many missions and programs including the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, ironically championed in Trump’s first term as he promoted a U.S. return to the moon.

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Emily Carney / Space News