Delta Chief Refutes CBS Anchor’s Effort to Blame Trump for Crash [WATCH]

Following the Delta Air Lines plane crash in Toronto, media figures attempted to link the incident to spending cuts and layoffs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under President Donald Trump’s administration.

However, Delta CEO Ed Bastian swiftly dismissed these claims during an interview on CBS This Morning with Gayle King, stating that the cuts had no impact on the airline’s operations.

The Delta flight, which crashed on the runway in Toronto, ended with the fuselage upside down. While no fatalities were reported, nearly two dozen passengers sustained injuries.

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During the interview, King pressed Bastian on whether Trump’s FAA budget cuts contributed to the crash. Bastian shut down the claim, emphasizing that the cuts did not affect Delta’s safety operations.

“The cuts do not affect us, Gail. I’ve been in close communication with the Secretary of Transportation. I understand that the, 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 non-critical safety functions.”

CBS Propagandist Gayle King gets real-time fact-check from Delta CEO after attempting to implicate the Trump admin in Toronto crash:

“The cuts do not affect us, Gail. I’ve been in close communication with the Secretary of Transportation. I understand that the, the cuts at… pic.twitter.com/TlJiSFljf5

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) February 19, 2025

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Bastian’s response undercut the growing mainstream media narrative that Trump’s spending cuts somehow led to the Toronto incident.

The focus on FAA budget reductions was widely seen as an attempt to shift blame onto the Trump administration despite no clear evidence linking the cuts to the crash.

Beyond the FAA budget discussion, concerns were raised about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hiring practices within the aviation industry.

Reports circulated that the Delta crew on the Toronto flight may not have had the same level of experience as other airline crews, fueling broader debates over whether DEI-driven hiring policies could compromise passenger safety.

While Bastian defended Delta’s personnel, broader scrutiny of FAA hiring policies has been ongoing.

In recent years, reports have surfaced about the agency hiring individuals with cognitive disabilities to serve as air traffic controllers, raising concerns about safety and competence in aviation oversight.

The media’s push to link Trump to aviation issues comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of airport safety.

The recent Washington, D.C., crash, which killed 67 people, raised questions about Reagan National Airport’s operational safety, a known issue under the Biden administration that reportedly went unaddressed despite warnings.

The attempt to connect Trump’s FAA spending decisions to the Toronto crash appears to be part of a larger effort to paint his administration as reckless.

However, the response from Bastian and public sentiment suggest that many voters support Trump’s policies, particularly in cutting government bloat and refocusing resources on core safety functions rather than DEI-driven hiring mandates.

As investigations into the Toronto crash continue, the politicization of aviation safety remains a focal point in the ongoing battle between the media and Trump’s administration.

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