“The U.S. can claim the moon as its own territory.”

On September 6, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump posted an image on Truth Social featuring the moon with the text 'The Moon is Ours' and a U.S. flag. While the post is authentic, it does not represent a formal or legal assertion of U.S. sovereignty over the moon. International law, specifically the 1967 'Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies' (Outer Space Treaty), explicitly prohibits such claims. Article II of the treaty states: 'Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means.' The United States is a party to this treaty, and no official government action has been taken to renounce it or declare sovereignty over the moon. Experts and fact-checkers have clarified that the post should be viewed as a rhetorical or provocative statement rather than a formal territorial proclamation.