After President Trump took credit for commercial aviation seeing its safest year on record, retired astronaut Mark Kelly suggested that by his logic, Trump should take credit for another notable statistic — the tens of thousands of gun deaths across the U.S. in 2017.
Kelly tweeted that the Transportation Department, the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA and commercial airlines were largely responsible for the airline industry’s stellar record from last year, not Trump.
“Actually, it’s USDOT, FAANews, & NASA —and especially the airlines— who deserve credit for this,” Kelly tweeted. “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.”
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
— Captain Mark Kelly (@CaptMarkKelly) January 2, 2018
According to a report published by the Aviation Safety Network, commercial airlines recorded zero deaths on passenger jets in the year 2017, topping off an excellent travel record that has sustained in the U.S. for a decade.
As soon as the report circulated the news cycle, President Trump took to Twitter and claimed credit for the record year of aviation safety.
“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!” Trump tweeted on Tuesday morning.
What Trump did to deserve these self-imposed accolades is anyone’s guess, considering that his administration’s attempts to privatize air traffic control stalled in Congress this summer. White House spokesman Raj Shah attempted to explain the tweet, saying Trump “raised the bar for our nation’s aviation safety and security” — whatever that means.
Kelly became a staunch proponent of gun control after his wife, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), was shot and critically injured in 2011.
Feature image via screen grab (YouTube)
