Democrats had been left dumbfounded Thursday after President Donald Trump twisted a lethal airplane crash disaster into a possibility to assault range, fairness and inclusion initiatives.
Lawmakers discovered no scarcity of phrases to explain Trump’s response, calling it “grotesque and outrageous,” “downright disgusting,” “disgraceful,” “absolutely shameful,” “despicable,” “absolutely vile,” “racist and sexist,” “a betrayal,” “monstrous,” “simply un-American,” “craven” and “pathetic.”
The lethal midair crash close to Ronald Reagan Nationwide Airport in Washington, D.C., killed 67 individuals, together with three troopers on board the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with the passenger airplane.
“Listen, it’s one thing for internet pundits to spew off conspiracies, it’s another for the president of the United States to throw out idle speculation as bodies are still being recovered and families are still being notified,” Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stated in a press release. “It just turns your stomach.”
“What a horrible, pathetic, little man.”
– Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.)
“We’ve just experienced a great tragedy, and the President of the United States has already rushed to politicize it — jumping to outrageous conclusions and undermining ongoing investigations,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) posted on social media. “His comments were grotesque and outrageous and he owes the American people an apology.”
“For the President to claim that it’s because the FAA hires women or Black people is downright disgusting,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) instructed reporters.
“This idea that by hiring nonwhite men you are putting the nation’s safety in jeopardy or that nonwhite men caused this crash is unconscionable,” he continued in a video message he shared.
“What a horrible, pathetic, little man,” Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) posted on X, previously Twitter, in response to Trump’s claims that it’s merely “common sense” responsible DEI efforts for the crash.
Pete Buttigieg, who served as former President Joe Biden’s transportation secretary, stated Trump ought to take a better take a look at his personal actions earlier than making such “despicable” remarks. Shortly after taking workplace, Buttigieg famous, considered one of Trump’s “first acts was to fire and suspend some of the key personnel who helped keep our skies safe.”
Roberto Schmidt by way of Getty Pictures
“As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying,” he wrote on social media. “We put safety first, drove down close calls, grew Air Traffic Control, and had zero commercial airline crash fatalities out of millions of flights on our watch.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Unwell.) scoffed at Trump making such assaults whereas restoration efforts had been nonetheless underway.
“There are still bodies being pulled from the Potomac River,” she wrote. “Families are grieving the loss of loved ones. Yet Donald Trump is baselessly blaming ‘DEI’ for last night’s tragic collision. Absolutely shameful.”
Dick Durbin (D-Unwell.) stated Trump has “turned a national tragedy into a craven, baseless political attack” on DEI.
“This is despicable and unconscionable. The American people deserve real answers, not narcissistic speculations,” he continued.
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) warned this ought to be a preview of what’s to come back from Trump in future emergencies.
“With every action, this president is setting the stage for our country’s next crisis — whatever that may be, I have no doubt he’ll blame anyone who isn’t a white man for it,” she wrote on social media.
“These people are racist and sexist. They should be ashamed of themselves.”
– Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.)
Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) had equally harsh phrases.
“Sadly while bodies are still being pulled from the Potomac, Donald Trump and his grossly unqualified administration are blaming this deadly crash on racial minorities and white women,” he wrote. “These people are racist and sexist. They should be ashamed of themselves.”
A number of Republicans shied away from embracing Trump’s remarks.
“I think we should wait to see the results of that investigation,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) instructed HuffPost. “Obviously one or more people made a devastating and catastrophic mistake, but we should wait to examine the evidence and understand exactly what went on.”
“I don’t know what happened last night,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) stated. “I don’t know if there’s any DEI component to it or not. I’ve heard nothing about that.”
