During a recent CBS interview, Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian decisively shut down the left-wing media’s latest attempt to blame President Trump for a tragic aviation accident. Speaking with Gayle King, Bastian dismissed concerns that Trump’s budget cuts at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contributed to the disaster, calling them overblown and irrelevant to flight safety.
The interview comes in the wake of a devastating airplane accident near Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C., on January 29, 2025, where a Department of Defense (DOD) helicopter collided with a commercial jetliner over the Potomac River, resulting in 67 fatalities. The Biden-era media establishment wasted no time trying to pin the blame on Trump’s cost-saving measures, despite zero evidence linking the two.
Gayle King, echoing the predictable leftist narrative, attempted to push Bastian into criticizing Trump. “I know the Trump administration recently fired many employees of the FAA. Do those cuts worry you? And do you think that impacts safety?” she asked, attempting to stir fear among travelers.
Bastian, however, set the record straight. “The cuts do not affect us, Gayle. I’ve been in close communication with the Secretary of Transportation. I understand that the cuts at this time are something that are raising questions, but the reality is, there’s over 50,000 people that work at the FAA, and the cuts, I understand, were 300 people, and they were in noncritical safety functions,” he stated, immediately deflating the baseless attacks against Trump.
Rather than weakening air safety, Bastian highlighted how Trump is actively working to enhance it. “The Trump administration has committed to investing deeply in improving the overall technologies that are used in the air traffic control systems and modernizing the skies. They’ve committed to hiring additional controllers and investigators, and safety-investing investigators. So no, I’m not concerned with that at all,” he added.
Following the accident, President Trump gave a heartfelt address to the nation, offering sincere condolences to the victims and their families. “As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly,” Trump said. “We are in mourning. On behalf of the first lady, myself, and 340 million Americans, our hearts are shattered alongside yours, and our prayers are with you now and in the days to come. We’re here for you to wipe away the tears and to offer you our devotion, our love, and our support.”
Unlike the performative responses of past administrations, Trump turned to faith and unity. “In moments like this, the differences between Americans fade to nothing compared to the bonds of affection and loyalty that unite us all. We are one family, and today, we are all heartbroken. Take solace in the knowledge that their journey ended not in the cold waters of the Potomac but in the warm embrace of a loving God,” he said.
But Trump didn’t stop at words. He took swift action to ensure future safety concerns aren’t dictated by radical diversity mandates rather than merit and competence. Trump pointed to troubling hiring practices at the FAA, which had prioritized so-called “diversity and inclusion” over qualifications. The FAA had been actively recruiting individuals with “severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions,” according to its own hiring initiatives.
Trump refused to accept this reckless disregard for passenger safety and signed an executive order focused on “restoring our highest standards for air traffic controllers and other important jobs throughout the country.” He specifically addressed how these dangerous diversity policies had compromised aviation safety, stating, “The FAA [was] actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative.”
The left has long prioritized social experiments over practical expertise, but Trump is putting America first once again. “Competence should be the sole relevant feature,” the president declared. As usual, Trump stands as the last line of defense against the radical policies that continue to threaten American lives.
