Trump on the crash in DC: “Do you want me to go swimming?”

During a press conference at the White House, a journalist asked President Donald Trump about his intention to visit the site of the plane crash.

In response, the president remarked: “What, the site? The water? You want me to go swimming?” A comment widely perceived as indifferent and completely devoid of empathy in the face of the gravity of the situation.

On January 30, 2025, in the evening, a tragic collision occurred over the Potomac River, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. An American Airlines passenger plane and a Black Hawk military helicopter collided, resulting in the deaths of the 67 people on board both aircraft.

This accident, the worst aviation disaster in the United States since 2001, also represents the first major crisis to manage for Trump since his arrival at the White House.

In addition to his controversial statement, President Trump blamed, without providing evidence, the responsibility for the accident on the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). According to him, these policies would have favored the hiring of less competent personnel, thereby endangering air safety.

These statements have sparked outrage, his remarks have been described as “despicable” and many have pointed out the lack of evidence supporting such claims. They also reminded that the investigation into the causes of the accident was ongoing and that it was premature to draw conclusions.

It should be noted that just a few days before the tragedy, Donald Trump made significant changes to the federal aviation agencies. He dismissed David Pekoske, the head of the TSA, and dissolved a key aviation security advisory group.

The FAA found itself without leadership after the resignation of Michael Whitaker, who left his position following pressures exerted by Elon Musk. These changes raised concerns about air safety and the effectiveness of the government response to the crash on January 30.

This tragedy above the Potomac caused devastating human losses, but rather than focusing on the facts, Donald Trump used the event to fuel his usual rhetoric.

His attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies diverts attention from the ongoing investigation, whereas the priority should be to find the real causes of the crash and support the families of the victims.

The investigation into the causes of the collision is ongoing, and authorities have appealed for patience, emphasizing that it is essential to gather and analyze all available data before drawing conclusions.