During a White House press briefing, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s sarcastic remark about visiting the crash site of an American Airlines flight sparked widespread criticism online.
When asked if he intended to visit the location, Trump responded, “You want me to go swimming?” The crash involved an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in the tragic loss of all 67 passengers and crew on board.
Trump mocks journalist over plane crash site visit
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation, with preliminary findings expected in the coming weeks. CNN reported that approximately 40 bodies have been recovered so far.
During Thursday’s press briefing, a reporter inquired about Trump’s plans to visit the crash site. Trump replied, “I do have a plan to visit, but not the site. What is the site? Water? Are we going to go swimming?”
His response drew backlash on social media, with many criticizing it as “callous” and “insensitive.” Some viewers expressed disappointment over what they saw as a lack of empathy, while others defended Trump, arguing that the reporter’s question was irrelevant given the circumstances.
Asked if he’ll visit the crash site, Trump responds, “You want me to go swimming?”
Soulless pic.twitter.com/xwuTNcKe9D— MikeBates (@MikeBates) January 31, 2025
Despite his dismissive tone, Trump confirmed plans to meet with families of the victims but did not provide a timeline. “I will be meeting with some people that were very badly hurt with their family members, obviously, but I’ll be meeting with some of the families, yeah,” he stated.
Trump issues executive order on aviation safety
Following the tragic incident, Trump signed an executive order titled “Immediate Assessment of Aviation Safety.” In the order, he criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, suggesting they may have played a role in the crash—though he did not present evidence to support the claim.
Before investigators released any official conclusions, Trump linked the incident to DEI policies, arguing that “if they don’t have a great brain, they’re not going to be very good at what they do.”