Chuck Schumer couldn’t wait to point fingers following a tragic maritime incident.
But his hasty attempt to connect the Trump administration to a deadly ship crash backfired dramatically.
Because Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security just instantly shut down Chuck Schumer’s outrageous claims about the Brooklyn Bridge collision.
Democrat leader tries to blame Trump for Mexican Navy vessel accident
Tragedy struck Monday when the Mexican Navy’s training vessel Cuauhtémoc smashed into the Brooklyn Bridge. The ship was backing out of its berth when the devastating collision occurred. According to reports, the crash resulted in two deaths and at least 22 injuries.
According to officials, the vessel suffered a mechanical malfunction while maneuvering. Authorities have not suggested any connection between the accident and U.S. infrastructure or federal agencies.
Despite these facts, the Senate Minority Leader couldn’t resist trying to link the incident to President Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency.
Schumer took to the social media platform X with accusations aimed at the administration. “With the Brooklyn Bridge strike last night, I’m fighting for answers about whether Trump and DOGE have impacted water traffic control,” Schumer wrote. “We know they’ve been meddling with U.S. Coast Guard staffing.”
The New York Democrat didn’t stop there. He continued his post by claiming, “Trump relieved Admiral Linda Fagan as Commandant of the USCG, and that position is still vacant. And the hiring freeze has limited the ability for the USCG to staff up the Vehicle Traffic Service, that’s their traffic control operation that acts like Air Traffic Control but on water. We need action for our national security, infrastructure protection, and public safety.”
With the Brooklyn Bridge strike last night:
I’m fighting for answers about whether Trump and DOGE have impacted water traffic control.
We know they’ve been meddling with U.S. Coast Guard staffing.
Trump relieved Admiral Linda Fagan as Commandant of the USCG, and that position…
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 18, 2025
Not content with just social media accusations, Schumer doubled down.
Mexican Navy ship loses control and rams into a bridge.
Chuck Schumer: Trump and DOGE must be held accountable.
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) May 19, 2025
What’s more, Schumer gave an official press statement.
In it, he suggested there were “indications that this service [Vehicle Traffic System] may not be fully or adequately functional in light of a hiring freeze.”
Homeland Security delivers crushing reality check
The Department of Homeland Security wasted no time responding to Schumer’s allegations.
In a message on X, Homeland Security posted: “Senator Schumer should get his facts straight before he misleads the American people.”
The DHS rejected Schumer’s accusations, stating they were not based in fact.
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. The US Coast Guard has been fully supported and been exempt from hiring freezes. Additionally, this incident had nothing to do… https://t.co/BR4iJX2oX9
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 18, 2025
The agency clarified that the Coast Guard was not affected by any hiring freeze and noted that the Vehicle Traffic Service was not involved in this incident.
The New York Post weighed in on the controversy, describing Schumer’s comments as “bizarre.” The paper highlighted how there was absolutely no connection between Coast Guard operations, VTS systems, federal hiring practices, and the mechanical breakdown on the Mexican vessel.
Public outcry over politicizing a tragedy
Americans across social media platforms condemned Schumer’s transparent attempt to exploit the deadly accident for political gain.
His social media post received overwhelming negative feedback, with replies outnumbering likes – what online users call being “ratioed.”
Users on X heavily criticized the senator, calling the post inappropriate and accusing him of politicizing a tragedy.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard responded promptly to the collision, coordinating emergency efforts with local responders after the crash. No federal delays or miscommunications have been cited in the timeline of emergency response efforts.
By Wednesday, Schumer had not issued any correction or clarification of his misleading statements. The Mexican training vessel remains at dock while investigators work to determine the exact cause of the mechanical failure that led to the deadly accident.
This episode provides yet another example of anti-Trump politicians jumping to blame the administration without waiting for facts. Schumer’s rush to exploit a deadly accident for political purposes completely fell apart when confronted with reality.
