
President Trump Dismisses Reporter’s Question About Crash Site: ‘You Want Me To Go Swimming?’
By Russell Bartlett
In the 10 days since President Donald Trump has taken office, he has already visited multiple domestic disaster sites in addition to a plate full of other second-term priorities.
After the recent crash involving a military helicopter and an American Airlines jet, the president once again demonstrated a level of media availability that stands in stark contrast to his predecessor.
When one reporter asked whether he was planning to visit the site of the crash, however, a seemingly perturbed Trump offered a somewhat terse reply, per HuffPost:
“I have a plan to visit, not the site because — you tell me, what’s the site? The water?” Trump told reporters at the White House. “You want me to go swimming?”
The midair collision happened Wednesday night as an American Airlines jet was about to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. There were 64 people on the plane and three military personnel in the helicopter.
“I have a plan to visit, not the site because — you tell me, what’s the site? The water?” Trump told reporters at the White House. “You want me to go swimming?”
The midair collision happened Wednesday night as an American Airlines jet was about to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. There were 64 people on the plane and three military personnel in the helicopter.
Officials said there were no survivors, and by Thursday morning authorities had pulled 28 bodies from the frigid Potomac River.
The moment was widely shared on social media, with many commenters defending Trump’s dismissive reply:
That’s funny. He’s so good at this.
— MAZE (@mazemoore) January 30, 2025