Americans are expressing outrage at President Donald Trump, accusing him of showing “no empathy” for the victims of the American Airlines crash after he made what appeared to be a lighthearted remark about the tragedy during a press conference.
The American Airlines Crash
The devastating collision occurred on January 29 when an American Airlines jet, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided mid-air with a military helicopter. The PSA Airlines aircraft (AA 5432) was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after departing from Wichita, Kansas, when it crashed into a Black Hawk Sikorsky H-60 helicopter.
The military chopper, which had taken off from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, carried three people on board. Witnesses reported that both aircraft plunged into the Potomac River upon impact, with reports indicating that the plane “split in half.”
Rescue teams were immediately deployed, but DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly later admitted that authorities “don’t believe there are any survivors.”
Trump’s Response
Shortly after the crash, Trump addressed the incident on his social media platform, Truth Social. He speculated about what may have led to the collision, questioning why the helicopter was not instructed to move out of the plane’s flight path.
“Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane?” Trump wrote, calling the situation “bad” and saying it “should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”
However, it was during a press conference the following day (January 30) that his response sparked widespread anger. When asked by a journalist whether he planned to visit the crash site, Trump interrupted before she could finish her question.
“I have no plans to visit the site because—you tell me, what’s the site?” he replied. Then, seemingly making a joke, he added, “The water? You want me to go swimming?”
The reporter then attempted to clarify, asking if he would meet with first responders. Trump, cutting her off again, stated, “I don’t have a plan to do that.”
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Public Backlash
Footage of the exchange quickly went viral, with many accusing the president of being insensitive to those who lost their lives in the disaster.
“We are only two weeks in, and I’m truly exhausted,” one person wrote on Instagram, referencing Trump’s recent inauguration as the 47th U.S. president.
Another criticized his remarks, saying, “If nothing else, the blatant lack of self-awareness, empathy, compassion… SENSE is providing gentle comic relief amid the pure rage and unbearable sadness.”
“I’m just at a loss, my brain is shutting down,” a third person added.
For those grieving, Trump’s comments felt especially painful. “I can’t imagine losing someone in this tragedy and then hearing this absolute doorknob disrespect their death like that!” one person wrote.
Another commented, “I can’t even imagine how the families are feeling hearing this heartless statement from this felonious man.”
As the investigation into the crash continues, emotions remain raw, with many demanding more empathy from the president during this difficult time.