Trump Blames Obama and Biden for Air Safety Lapses Following Tragic Mid-Air Collision
In the wake of a devastating mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, former President Donald Trump has sharply criticized his predecessors, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, for what he claims is a decline in aviation safety standards under Democratic leadership. The tragic incident, which occurred near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night, has left all 67 individuals on board feared dead, marking one of the most catastrophic aviation disasters in recent history.
During a press briefing on Thursday, Trump asserted that the policies implemented by the Obama and Biden administrations prioritized politics over public safety. “Democrats put policy first and they put politics at a level that nobody’s ever seen,” he stated. “They actually came out with a directive that put political correctness before competency. We need the most qualified individuals, and I made sure of that when I was in office.”
Trump claimed that during his tenure, he had raised the standards for air traffic controllers to require “only the highest intellect and psychologically superior people” for the job. He lamented that these measures were undone by Biden upon taking office, leading to a decline in air safety. “I changed the Obama standards from very mediocre at best to extraordinary. When I left office and Biden took over, he changed them back to lower than ever before,” he said.
The collision, which sent both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River, has shaken the nation and reverberated globally. Among those on board were a contingent of Russian nationals, whom Trump described as “some very talented people.” Expressing condolences, he assured that efforts would be made to uncover the root cause of the disaster and implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future. “This is a dark and excruciating moment in our nation’s history, a tragedy of terrible proportions. We grieve for every precious soul taken so suddenly,” Trump said.
Earlier, DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly confirmed that rescue efforts had transitioned into a recovery mission, as authorities no longer expect to find survivors. “We are now at a point where we’re switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident,” Donnelly said during a press conference at Reagan National Airport.
Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser also addressed the nation, emphasizing the importance of a thorough investigation into the factors leading to the deadly crash. Aviation experts and military officials are now working closely to piece together the events that led to the collision, which raises serious concerns regarding air traffic management and regulatory oversight.
As the nation mourns the victims of this unprecedented disaster, Trump’s remarks have reignited debates over the effectiveness of aviation policies under different administrations. The former president’s comments underscore the ongoing political divide over public safety regulations, competency in air traffic management, and the broader implications of policy shifts over the years.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are expected to release preliminary findings in the coming days. Meanwhile, families of the victims and the broader aviation community await answers that could shape the future of US air safety regulations.
