CNN Commentators Face Backlash for Blaming Trump in D.C. Midair Collision – One America News Network
OAN Staff James Meyers
9:33 AM – Thursday, January 30, 2025
CNN commentator Bakari Sellers, along with two other prominent left-leaning figures known for their extensive social media followings, ignited a firestorm of criticism on Wednesday evening by attributing responsibility for the tragic midair collision between an American Airlines aircraft and an Army helicopter to President Donald Trump.
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Sellers initially shared, then quickly deleted, an image of a press release from the previous week where Representative Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) condemned Trump for allegedly instigating a “dangerous freeze of air traffic control hiring.”
Larsen’s remarks referenced an executive order Trump enacted upon taking office the previous week.
In the wake of these comments, Sellers faced a torrent of backlash from users accusing him of politicizing the tragic event.
“Americans are currently being fished out of the Potomac, and rather than show respect for the victims, you’re choosing to dishonestly (and despicably) assign blame,” one user stated, referencing footage aired on Sellers’ own network.
“The freeze has not impacted any ATC command centers ANYWHERE after January 20th. There are no depths low enough for @CNN,” another user remarked, pointing out flaws in Sellers’ controversial assertions.
Following extensive criticism, Sellers deleted his post and issued an apology just two hours after the crash.
“I deleted the post because timing matters. Politics right now does not. I f***ed up, and I accept that,” Sellers stated after the backlash. “I am very prayerful but also very frustrated and disturbed by our current state as a nation. I recognize that and will strive to improve.”
“The primary focus should be on rescuing survivors and making sure such incidents do not occur again,” he emphasized, acknowledging that he might have broached the topic too hastily.
Nevertheless, many users on X were not swayed, pointing out factual inaccuracies in his comments.
“You can’t train an air traffic controller in 8 days,” one user responded, expressing frustration with Sellers.
“You deleted the post because dozens of Americans are currently being recovered from the Potomac,” another user sharply responded to his apology.
“[A]nd instead of honoring the victims, you chose to falsely blame [Donald Trump],” one user commented.
“People have lost their lives. How can you harbor such political animosity?” another user questioned.
“The hiring freeze did NOT affect ATC,” another countered, affirming that “even if the claim was accurate, using the demise of over 60 innocent people to score political points just an hour after their deaths is disgraceful.”
Aaron Rupar, a former Vox journalist with a following exceeding 908,000 on X, shared a link to a Huffington Post article titled “Trump Guts Key Aviation Safety Committee, Fires Heads of TSA, Coast Guard.”
The article, authored by the Associated Press, was published on January 22nd.
Consequently, the post attracted even more stringent critiques.
One X user remarked: “You are a vile excuse for a human.”
Another user commented: “If you are relating these dismissals to the crash, it implies that all the parties let go were performing inadequately, making the terminations warranted.”
Moreover, Kyle Kulinski, a left-leaning podcaster and host of “Secular Talk,” echoed Rupar’s headline.
One user replied: “This is low, even for you…It was mere luck this didn’t transpire during the Biden administration.”
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