Coast Guard Responds to Chuck Schumer Blaming Trump For Mexican Ship Crash

After a Mexican Navy training ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge over the weekend — resulting in a tragic accident that left two sailors dead and 19 injured — Senator Chuck Schumer tried to pin the blame on… former President Donald Trump and, bizarrely, DOGE (yes, the cryptocurrency).

Schumer claimed that Trump-era staffing cuts and a supposed freeze on Coast Guard hiring were to blame, saying these changes may have affected water traffic control systems like the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) — the maritime equivalent of air traffic control.

He posted:

“I’m fighting for answers about whether Trump and DOGE have impacted water traffic control. The hiring freeze has limited the ability for the USCG to staff up VTS… We need action for our national security, infrastructure protection, and public safety.”

Social media didn’t buy it. Users on X (formerly Twitter) immediately pushed back, mocking Schumer’s attempt to tie a shipwreck to cryptocurrency and a former president.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard flatly denied Schumer’s claims. In a statement to Fox News, they confirmed that VTS was fully operational at the time of the accident and followed all established procedures:

“The Vessel Traffic Service was fully functional during the incident and operating in accordance with established procedures to manage commercial traffic and facilitate safe navigation,” the Coast Guard said.

“Our response included launching a crew from Station New York, establishing a temporary safety zone, and coordinating with NYPD, FDNY, and NYC DOT.”

So, what did cause the crash?

According to the Associated Press, the 300-foot-long Mexican tall ship Cuauhtémoc ran into a perfect storm of natural challenges while navigating the narrow, winding East River. The ship was dealing with:

• Strong tidal currents
• Sudden 10 mph winds
• Choppy water near Manhattan’s skyline
• Potential lack of tugboat support

Experts say the crew may have simply misjudged the conditions.

Sal Mercogliano, a maritime expert and former merchant mariner, suggested poor timing might’ve been the biggest mistake:

“The prudent thing would’ve been to leave two hours earlier, when the tide was going out. That would’ve been the ideal time,” he said.

Investigators are still working to determine the exact cause, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says it could take months to complete their inquiry.

But one thing is already clear: Trump and DOGE had absolutely nothing to do with it — despite what Senator Schumer tried to suggest.