President Donald Trump offered a lackluster response Sunday night to the collision of the USS John McCain and an oil tanker off the coast of Singapore that left five sailors injured and at least 10 missing: “that’s too bad.”
According to a U.S. Navy statement, the USS John McCain, a guided-missile destroyer, collided with the Alnic MC, a merchant vessel east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore around 6 a.m.
A Singapore Armed Forces helicopter evacuated four of the injured sailors to a hospital in Singapore, where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries. The fifth sailor did not require further medical attention. 10 sailors are still missing, per the statement.
Trump reacted to news of the crash after reporters shouted questions at him as he arrived on the South Lawn of the White House via helicopter, after returning to Washington D.C. from his vacation in Bedminster, New Jersey.
After Steve Herman, White House bureau chief for the Voice of America, asked for a comment, Trump could be heard over the helicopter noise replying “that’s too bad, too bad.” His comment was given around 8:30 p.m. Sunday night, a half-hour before the Navy announced that 10 sailors were missing from the missile destroyer’s crew.
Watch Trump’s comments above, via MSNBC.
The ship is named for the father and grandfather of Sen. John McCain who were both admirals in the Navy. The senator issued this response to the collision on Twitter:
Cindy & I are keeping America’s sailors aboard the USS John S McCain in our prayers tonight – appreciate the work of search & rescue crews https://t.co/jzk9giXbfg
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) August 21, 2017
Several hours later, Trump expanded on his initial statement in a tweet offering “Thoughts & prayers” for the Navy sailors:
Thoughts & prayers are w/ our @USNavy sailors aboard the #USSJohnSMcCain where search & rescue efforts are underway. https://t.co/DQU0zTRXNU
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 21, 2017
[image via screengrab]
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