The former president claims Democratic policies weakened air traffic safety, contributing to the tragic crash that killed 67 near Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., January 31: In the wake of the mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, which resulted in the deaths of all 67 people on board, former President Donald Trump has blamed Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama for allegedly weakening air safety standards.
During a press briefing on Thursday, Trump claimed that the Democrats prioritized politics over public safety, which he believes contributed to the catastrophic aviation disaster near Reagan National Airport.
“Democrats put policy first and politics at a level that nobody’s ever seen,” Trump stated.
“I changed the Obama standards from very mediocre at best to extraordinary. Only the highest intellect and psychologically superior people were allowed to qualify for air traffic controllers under my administration. But Biden reversed that, lowering standards to worse than ever before.”
Trump Vows to Investigate and Prevent Future Disasters
Trump expressed his condolences for the victims and their families, acknowledging that the tragedy has shaken the nation and international communities.
“Sadly, there are no survivors. This is a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history,” Trump said.
He also mentioned that among the deceased were Russian nationals on board the passenger plane, referring to them as “very talented people.”
“We are very sorry about that. We do not know what led to this crash, but we have strong opinions and ideas. We will find out how this disaster occurred and ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.”
US Authorities Confirm No Survivors, Focus Shifts to Recovery
🔹 DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly confirmed that rescue operations have ended and efforts have shifted to recovering bodies and wreckage.
🔹 Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser addressed the media, confirming that the crash involved an American Airlines jet carrying 64 passengers and a Black Hawk helicopter with three US Army soldiers.
🔹 The collision caused both aircraft to plunge into the Potomac River, leaving no 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,” said Donnelly.
What Happens Next?
✅ NTSB and FAA will conduct a full investigation into the cause of the crash.
✅ Trump continues to push his claims that Democratic leadership weakened air safety policies.
✅ Washington mourns one of the worst aviation disasters in recent history.
As the investigation unfolds, Trump’s blistering critique of Biden and Obama’s air safety policies has ignited a political firestorm, making aviation regulations a hot-button issue ahead of the 2024 elections.