Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faced heavy backlash online over the weekend after linking President Donald Trump to a Mexican Navy ship crash that damaged the Brooklyn Bridge. The 150-foot-tall training vessel, Cuauhtémoc, reportedly suffered a mechanical issue before its masts struck the bridge, killing two cadets on board.
In a press release, Schumer stated, "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."
He then shifted focus to national infrastructure and security. “Bridges serve as critical transportation arteries for commerce, emergency response, and daily travel,” he wrote. “Many span key waterways that are vulnerable to both natural and man-made threats.”
Schumer suggested the Trump administration’s policies may have played a role. “It is unacceptable that the Trump administration is potentially jeopardizing our national and economic security – as well as American lives,” he said, referencing a hiring freeze at the Department of Homeland Security, including the Coast Guard.
He claimed the hiring freeze could have affected the Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic System, which he likened to air traffic control for ships. “Maintaining the structural integrity and safety of America’s bridges is critical to the economy and the well-being of communities,” Schumer emphasized.
But the Department of Homeland Security quickly pushed back. “Minority Leader Schumer’s accusations... are FALSE,” DHS posted on X. They said the Coast Guard had full staffing and was exempt from hiring freezes.
“The incident had nothing to do with Vessel Traffic Services,” the post added. “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.”
Conservatives pounced. “Schumer: I’ll never forgive Drumpf for this!” tweeted Fox News contributor Guy Benson. Mark Levin called Schumer “a stupid, evil man,” while others mocked the idea of Trump being responsible for the Mexican Navy. “I, too, question Donald Trump's leadership of the Mexican Navy,” quipped Jim Treacher.