President Trump placed a long-distance congratulatory phone call from the White House to two US astronauts who became the first female spacewalking team – telling the pair that what they do is “incredible.”

“We are thrilled to be speaking live with two American astronauts who are making history, joining us during their spacewalk outside of the International Space Station,” said Trump, with Vice President Mike Pence and daughter Ivanka at his side.

“I just want to congratulate you. What you do is incredible. You are very brave people,” Trump told Christina Koch and Jessica Meir.

“I don’t think I want to do it, I must tell you that,” the president joked, “but you are amazing people.”

He said the women “are doing it at a very high altitude, an altitude that very few people will ever see. … You are right now on television all over the world, so don’t get nervous.”

As the women wrapped up their spacewalk, Trump asked them what they would like to tell young women listening in.

Meir replied: “We don’t want to take too much credit because there have been many others — female spacewalkers — before us. This is just the first time that there have been two women outside at the same time … For us, this is really just us doing our job.”

At one point, the link from space appeared to have been lost

“Maybe they didn’t like my message,” the president quipped to laughter.