Senator Chuck Schumer faced a wave of backlash online after implying that President Donald Trump might share responsibility for the accident involving a Mexican Navy vessel that struck the Brooklyn Bridge over the weekend.
In a public statement, Schumer commented on the incident, saying, “After being fully briefed on last night’s Brooklyn Bridge accident, one thing is predominantly clear: there are more questions than answers as it relates to exactly how this accident occurred.” His remarks followed reports that the 150-foot-tall Cuauhtémoc, a training ship from the Mexican Navy, experienced a mechanical malfunction, leading to its masts hitting the bridge and resulting in the tragic deaths of two cadets.
Schumer highlighted the broader implications of bridge safety, emphasizing their importance in national infrastructure. “Bridges serve as critical transportation arteries for commerce, emergency response, and daily travel, and many span key waterways that are vulnerable to both natural and man-made threats. The Coast Guard plays a crucial role in monitoring and securing these areas, deterring potential terrorist attacks, preventing illegal activities, and responding quickly to emergencies,” he stated. Schumer added, “At the same time, maintaining the structural integrity and safety of America’s bridges is critical to the economy and the well-being of communities. A failure or attack on a major bridge could disrupt supply chains, endanger lives, and cause massive economic losses. It is unacceptable that the Trump administration is potentially jeopardizing our national and economic security – as well as American lives.”
He specifically pointed to staffing issues, attributing them to a hiring freeze enacted by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he said may have negatively impacted the Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic System, likening it to air traffic control for maritime routes.
Schumer’s remarks were swiftly met with rejection from both the Department of Homeland Security and conservative commentators. The official DHS account responded bluntly on X: “Minority Leader Schumer’s accusations that a hiring freeze led to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Services not being adequately staffed are FALSE.”
They further clarified, “The US Coast Guard has been fully supported and been exempt from hiring freezes. Additionally, this incident had nothing to do with Vessel Traffic Services—when a ship loses propulsion in a high current area, the vessel needs to engage all capabilities to stop and ideally tugs are nearby to support. We encourage Minority Leader Schumer to get his facts straight before he misleads the American people.”
The pushback wasn’t limited to government statements. Conservative personalities took to social media to mock Schumer’s assertion. Fox News contributor Guy Benson joked on X, “Mexican vessel: Loses control, hits bridge. Schumer: I’ll never forgive Drumpf for this!”
Commentator Mark Levin didn’t hold back either, posting, “Schumer is a stupid, evil man.”
Jim Treacher, a writer on Substack, sarcastically quipped, “I, too, question Donald Trump’s leadership of the Mexican Navy.”
Steve Guest, a conservative media strategist, added, “Elon and Trump Derangement Syndrome is out of control. Schumer is trying to pass the blame from the Mexican Navy onto them…”
Leo Terrell, who served as senior counsel to Trump’s assistant attorney general, summed it up bluntly with, “He is an idiot.”
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard offered its own clarification, confirming that its systems were operating as they should have been. “The U.S. Coast Guard’s New York Vessel Traffic Service was fully functional during the incident, operating in accordance with established procedures to manage commercial traffic and facilitate safe navigation,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
{Matzav.com}