LEARNING ON JOB

Trump’s Band of Newbies Face Massive Crisis on Their Doorstep

The president’s new Cabinet will be put to the test immediately.

Donald Trump’s rookie team face their first major crisis on their own doorstep with many of them just days into their jobs as the inquest begins into how the midair collision over the Potomac could have happened.

Many of Trump’s newbie Cabinet members were blasted by Democrats—and even some Republicans—for their lack of experience in key posts in government. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in particular, was bombarded with heavy flak over his lack of leadership skills for such a big job.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was only confirmed a day after Hegseth and along with Trump’s other newcomers to Washington, they will now be fielding a barrage of questions over how such a catastrophic crash could have taken place over the nation’s capital.

Also in the firing line will be new Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and possibly CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Social media was already awash with spurious theories on Wednesday night that the helicopter was involved in an undercover mission when the collision took place—with, almost inevitably, Trump himself offering fuel to the fire with a Truth Social post which said, “why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane.”

Trump’s choice as FBI director, Kash Patel, may also face questions relating to the crash at his confirmation hearing on Thursday morning.

New Treasury chief Scott Bessent could even be drawn into the debate over spending on infrastructure projects.

It took Vice President JD Vance’s tie-breaking vote to rescue Hegseth’s confirmation after his colorful private life almost derailed the former Fox News host’s rise to head the Department of Defence.

Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth claimed he was the “least qualified” of Trump’s Cabinet picks and said his inexperience could put U.S. service members at risk. “We’re talking about the middle-of-the-night 3 a.m. phone call when Chinese fighter jets come within meters of American fighter jets,” said Duckworth, adding: “Our troops deserve better than a guy who was seemingly only nominated because he used to host Trump’s favorite show on Fox News.”

It wasn’t a near collision with Chinese fighters in a call to Hegseth on Wednesday night, but a very real collision between an American Airlines jet packed with passengers and a military helicopter.

Hegseth posted a message on X saying: “DoD actively monitoring. Poised to assist if needed. Prayers for all involved.”

Later, he added an update identifying the helicopter sand saying: “Latest below. Absolutely tragic. Search and rescue efforts still ongoing. Prayers for all impacted souls, and their families. Investigation launched immediately by Army & DoD.”

The Pentagon boss is certain to be quizzed in the morning about how a military helicopter on a “training flight” came to be in the flight path of a scheduled passenger jet.

“We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir during a training flight,” confirmed a military official.

The collision happened in one of the busiest air corridors in the country with many flight movements classified because of military involvement and the close proximity to the White House, the Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol and other significant government buildings.

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No terrorist involvement is suspected, but Duffy—who found fame as a reality show contestant in The Real World: Boston —will be expected to be the face of the administration as the reasons for the crash are explored in the tragic aftermath of the crash.

Vance appeared to be taking the lead on Wednesday night, putting out a statement before Trump, saying: “Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best.”

Later, the president posted something similar, “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation.”

As more details emerge from the wreckage in the Potomac, the acolytes Trump trusted with his key government posts will have to show whether their bold promises made during their confirmation hearings that they knew what they were doing will hold up.

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David GardnerChief National Correspondent

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