He knows that NASA is going back to the Moon, as a part of their long-term goal of sending astronauts to Mars.
But he thinks talking about it is a bad PR move, I guess, because it doesn't sound "big"? And to Trump, it's all about size and superlatives.
They must remaster human spaceflight, practice for extended stays (b/c going to Mars is a long trip/stay), placing tech in the Moon's orbit to "pick up" on the way to Mars, etc...
nasa.gov/topics/moon-to…
Let's laugh at other sh!t he says. He was referring to the MISSION to Mars (which includes the Moon).
It's called the "Moon to Mars" program. The new Moon missions are essential to the missions to Mars.
He has feared that the Moon missions would be seen as lame and retro.
He's not saying we shouldn't go. He just doesn't want NASA to promote it because he saw his fear come true on TV...