All Crashes Are Trump’s Fault’— Top Democrat Blames Trump as Plane Accidents Surge in His First Month

Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, things haven’t been going entirely smoothly for the country. While his administration has made some policy changes, a series of plane crashes has raised serious concerns about air safety.

One of the most recent crashes happened on February 17, when a small plane carrying two people crashed in Covington, Georgia. This was already the fifth plane crash since Trump was sworn in as president on January 20, 2025. The increasing number of accidents in such a short time has sparked public debate and political criticism.

Following these back-to-back tragedies, U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Trump. He wrote that no other president had experienced as many plane crashes in their first month in office as Trump. He later doubled down on his remarks in an interview with Fox News Digital, saying, “Trump is president. He is in charge of air safety. All crashes are Trump’s fault.”

The Trump administration quickly responded. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung dismissed Swalwell’s comments, accusing him of either following orders from a controversial figure known as Fang Fang or suffering from what he called “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” While political figures argued over who was to blame, aviation experts looked into the possible reasons behind the crashes.

Experts believe several factors could be contributing to the recent accidents. Some planes may be too old and unsafe to fly. Safety protocols might not be followed as strictly as they should be. Pilots and flight crews are also facing long working hours, which can lead to exhaustion and mistakes. Since the pandemic, air travel has increased significantly, making the skies and runways busier, which in turn raises the risk of collisions. Weather conditions, such as heavy rain and strong turbulence, have also played a role in some of these crashes.

In response to the crisis, Trump reportedly fired several members of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, a group responsible for reviewing airline and airport safety. This decision came after one of the deadliest accidents yet—on January 31, 2025, a Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, killing 67 people.

Just days later, on February 6, another tragic crash occurred when a Bering Air commuter plane carrying nine passengers and a pilot crashed into sea ice off the coast of Alaska. Reports indicated that the weather conditions were poor, with light snow, fog, and freezing temperatures of 17 degrees Fahrenheit (-8.3°C) at the time of the crash.

While investigations continue, Trump has suggested that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring policies may have contributed to the increase in aviation accidents. According to the New York Post, Trump repeatedly claimed that air traffic controllers hired under DEI programs may not have been qualified for the job. He particularly referenced the deadly Potomac River crash, calling it one of the worst air disasters in the U.S. since 2001.

Trump also criticized previous administrations, especially Joe Biden and Barack Obama, for lowering hiring standards at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He argued that these changes could have made air travel less safe. Additionally, Trump questioned Biden’s policy of hiring individuals with disabilities as part of an effort to promote diversity and inclusion. At a public event, Trump reportedly stated, “We need the smartest and most talented people for these jobs. It doesn’t matter what they look like, how they speak, or who they are. They just need to be naturally talented—geniuses.”

Despite the controversy, Trump assured the public that his administration is working on making air travel safer. He promised that under his leadership, improvements would be made. However, with so many crashes happening in just a few weeks, many Americans are left wondering whether these incidents are just a coincidence or if there are deeper problems with the country’s aviation system. Investigations are still ongoing, and the public is waiting for answers before another tragedy strikes.