Chuck Schumer Has Temper Tantrum on Senate Floor Over Trump
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is intensifying his efforts to pin the blame on President Donald Trump for the Delta plane crash that occurred in Toronto, Canada.
During an impassioned speech on the U.S. Senate floor Wednesday, Schumer alleged that Trump’s reductions in FAA personnel are compromising air safety.
No air traffic controllers have been dismissed by Secretary [Sean] Duffy or the Trump administration.
“The FAA — the more Donald Trump and DOGE indiscriminately hack away at public agencies, the greater harm to Americans’ well-being and even their safety. The FAA is a good example. Just weeks after the deadliest plane crash in a long time, and just as we see more incidents around the country, President Trump has fired hundreds of FAA workers, including air safety personnel. Firing people whose very job it is to keep air travel safe is nothing short of reckless,” Schumer stated.
“Now the White House accused us of linking the crash of the Minneapolis flight directly with FAA cuts in staffing. Nothing could be further from the truth. I simply said that when there are fewer FAA personnel, the skies are less safe. Does Donald Trump deny that there are fewer FAA staffers? Does Donald Trump deny that when he fires FAA workers, including workers who focus on safety, it makes travel less safe?” he continued.
“Of course, Donald Trump is obfuscating once again. He doesn’t want the truth to come out. But he should correct course immediately and halt these firings, because the safety of the skies is at risk. Now of course we know that President Trump ignores the truth. But we need to speak the truth when people’s safety is at stake. Here are the facts. Something went terribly wrong on the flight that took off from Minneapolis. That’s clear,” Schumer asserted.
“An investigation is underway, and as I said yesterday, I await their results. Similarly, something went terribly wrong a few weeks ago on the flight from Kansas to Washington D.C. that claimed 67 people’s lives. And here are more facts. Donald Trump and Elon Musk have fired hundreds of FAA staffers, including safety specialists, the very people who keep our skies safe. All so Republicans can help their billionaire buddies with another tax break,” he said.
Schumer lamented, “Why? Why at a time when incidents in the air and on the runways and in our airports seem to be increasing, why would we cut the very people meant to prevent them? Simple. Donald Trump and DOGE are doing it like they’re doing so much else, so they can help their billionaire buddies with another tax break.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt fired back at Schumer, criticizing him for attempting to hold Trump responsible for the Delta airliner that crash-landed upside-down in Toronto.
Speaking on Fox’s “America Reports” on Tuesday, Leavitt condemned Schumer’s assertion that Trump’s recent FAA workforce reductions contributed to the accident.
“It’s incredibly irresponsible for Chuck Schumer to say such a thing when the investigation is still underway,” Leavitt remarked.
A Delta Air Lines flight departing from Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport on Monday crash-landed upon arrival at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Video footage captured the aircraft touching down before flipping onto its top side amid a burst of flames.
In the aftermath, footage showed the plane resting upside-down as passengers quickly evacuated through the cabin doors. All 80 passengers survived, though 18 sustained injuries, including three in critical condition, Fox News reported.
The crash sparked political debate on X, with Schumer blaming Trump. In a series of posts, he stated, “I’m thankful that everyone in the flight incident in Toronto that took off from Minneapolis is safe, but we keep seeing these incidents day after day. Meanwhile, Trump’s doing massive layoffs at the FAA – including safety specialists – and making our skies less and less safe.”
“Democrats are fighting to protect the flying public,” he added.
In another post, Schumer wrote, “To those asking whether it matters that the plane’s destination was in Canada: The flight took off from Minneapolis. The FAA was still responsible for inspecting the aviation equipment, and Trump just let go of FAA safety specialists.”
To those asking whether it matters that the plane’s destination was in Canada:
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 18, 2025
The flight took off from Minneapolis. The FAA was still responsible for inspecting the aviation equipment, and Trump just let go of FAA safety specialists. https://t.co/uCpjHtqLnd
Leavitt countered Schumer’s claims, pointing out that Canadian air traffic controllers were responsible for guiding the plane at the time of the crash.
Speaking to “America Reports” co-anchor John Roberts, she said, “And as you rightfully pointed out, John, this crash unfortunately took place in Canadian airspace with Canadian air traffic controllers overseeing it.”
She then challenged the assertion that Trump had dismissed FAA officials.
“And the facts about the FAA are that no air traffic controllers have been let go by Secretary [Sean] Duffy or this new administration. In fact, Secretary Duffy has put great emphasis on hiring the best and the brightest air traffic controllers who want to be part of the FAA,” she argued.
“And President Trump signed a very strong executive order to ensure that the FAA and all federal government agencies are focused on merit and skill-based hiring,” she continued. “We want the best and the brightest, the most competent individuals in positions especially of public safety at the FAA, the Department of Transportation, and all departments across this federal government, so we can best serve the American people.”
She concluded by emphasizing that former President Joe Biden and his Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, “sat on their hands when it came to aviation safety for four years.”