'Sicko': Trump roasted for proudly taking credit for 2017 being the safest year in airline travel
"If Trump was a rooster, he'd try to take credit for the sunrise," one Twitter user wrote.
US President Donald Trump took credit for 2017 being the safest year for commercial aviation and Twitter is ruthlessly roasting him for it. In a widely criticised tweet on Tuesday (2 January), Trump wrote: "Since taking office I have been very strict on Commercial Aviation. Good news - it was just reported that there were Zero deaths in 2017, the best and safest year on record!"
The Republican was referring to a report by the Aviation Safety Network (ASN), which stated that 2017 marked the safest year on record for commercial aviation worldwide with no fatal passenger jet airliner crashes. No US passenger airline has reportedly had a fatal crash since 2009.
Although the significant milestone is commendable, aviation officials and experts said Trump cannot claim responsibility for the clean safety record. The "steady and persistent" decline in airline accidents since 1997 can be attributed to the sustained efforts of international aviation safety organisations, ASN stated in the news release.
"It's impossible to link the worldwide level of safety directly to recent US policy changes," ASN President Harro Ranter told Reuters. "US efforts have been instrumental to get to where we are today, but it takes years for policy changes to reach effect, and only in conjunction with other efforts by the aviation industry."
At a press briefing, White House press secretary did not directly respond to questions whether Trump's predecessor Barack Obama deserved credit for the feat.
"The president has raised the bar for our nation's aviation safety and security," Sanders told reporters. She cited Trump's proposal to privatise the air traffic control system — which has not yet been approved by Congress — and new "enhanced security measures" by the Department of Homeland Security.
"The president is very happy that there were no commercial airline deaths in 2017 and we hope that that trend continues well into 2018 and beyond," Sanders said.
Meanwhile, Twitter furiously slammed the US president for taking credit for the global achievement.
While many questioned his "strict" stance on commercial air travel, others sarcastically came up with some other accomplishments for which he can take credit.
"Unlike Obama, Trump won't let any planes crash. Not even a little bit. He's very strict," one user wrote.
Another added: "We had no gas explosions in our house this year. Thank you, Mr. President, for your hands-on leadership of FERC."
Retired astronaut Mark Kelly tweeted: "If you're going to take credit for zero airline deaths in 2017 then you should take responsibility for the tens of thousands of gun deaths, too. #lawsmatter"
OMG Give me a break. Are you seriously trying to take credit for that?
— Greg Shugar (@GregShugar) January 2, 2018
Wait.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) January 2, 2018
Wait.
Back up.
Is he saying that he IMPOSED government regulation on an industry and it MADE THAT INDUSTRY SAFER?
Because it sounds a lot like that's what he's saying. https://t.co/YETNBFJasS
Taking credit for planes not crashing. https://t.co/MgDIJal5nA
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) January 2, 2018
You know Trump is a sicko when he takes credit for no aviation deaths instead of crediting pilots, airlines, transportation safety & air traffic control! What an arrogant, self absorbed egomaniacal little twit!
— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) January 2, 2018
You really want to dominate the news headlines today. I see right through you, dumb man. #Transparent
— Perez (@ThePerezHilton) January 2, 2018
I haven’t had a toothache since you became president. Thank you @realDonaldTrump!
— Ron W. (@ronwill55) January 2, 2018
Wait!!! YOU'RE taking credit for that?!! WTF is wrong with you man?!!!!
— The Undisputed Truth (@TheUndisputedT1) January 2, 2018
I guess this is what you need to be told daily... pic.twitter.com/0Wprpw1pLL
— I'mThatGuy (@DaTruthhurt) January 2, 2018
Since taking office I've tried to take credit for lots of things I had nothing to do with. But claiming responsibility for zero deaths on commercial airliners WORLDWIDE in 2017 is a new level of insanity! https://t.co/LKiIb1h208
— Translate Trump (@TranslateRealDT) January 2, 2018
Thank you @realDonaldTrump for enforcing the Airline Safety & FAA Extension Act of 2010 passed by Democrats and signed by President Obama. There have been no commercial plane crashes in the US since that law. https://t.co/jZdhs07TzT
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 2, 2018
There are MANY reasons worldwide commercial jet aviation had a crash-free 2017. None of them had anything AT ALL to do with Donald Trump.
— John Schindler (@20committee) January 2, 2018
Welcome to reality.
Thank you @realDonaldTrump for preventing US commercial airlines from crashing in 2017. Your active participation monitoring the flight patterns and safety regulations was greatly appreciated. In 2018 could you please turn your efforts toward preventing wildfires and hurricanes? https://t.co/yYq49PzZpX
— Bryan Cranston (@BryanCranston) January 2, 2018
Since Trump thinks Presidents control airline crashes, thank Obama. No crashes of an AMERICAN airline carrier since '09. Unless Trump is taking credit for the safety of foreign airlines, this shows once again that he takes credit without bothering to learn facts. (This is nuts.)
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) January 2, 2018
Trump definitely making Jared call the CEOs of commercial airlines every morning to remind them not to crash any planes today
— Auldbert Langsyneko (@AlbertBurneko) January 2, 2018
Actually, it's @USDOT, @FAANews, & @NASA —and especially the airlines— who deserve credit for this. But, if you're going to take credit for zero airline deaths in 2017 then you should take responsibility for the tens of thousands of gun deaths, too. #lawsmatter https://t.co/vnSPBo76LF
— Mark Kelly (@ShuttleCDRKelly) January 2, 2018
And no deaths in 2017 due to velociraptors. Thank you, Dear Leader Trump. https://t.co/YB5VDJm5nw
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) January 2, 2018
since donald trump has taken office he has been very strict on Slippery Ice—it was just reported that i have not fallen once this winter, the best on record!
— Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) January 2, 2018
Meanwhile, the @FAANews administrator's five-year term ends this month and Trump hasn't named a replacement. https://t.co/Nri0ABiV6c
— Ethan Klapper (@ethanklapper) January 2, 2018
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) January 2, 2018
Since flying on airplanes I have been very adamant that I did not want to die in an aviation accident. Good news - it was just reported that there were Zero deaths in 2017, the best and safest year on record! You're welcome
— Haley Byrd (@byrdinator) January 2, 2018
If Trump was a rooster, he'd try to take credit for the sunrise. https://t.co/skM1Y2Szjj
— Jesse Ferguson (@JesseFFerguson) January 2, 2018
