Senator Bernie Sanders just tried to reassure Americans about air travel safety, but his latest post might have done the exact opposite—and Trump supporters are sounding the alarm. Sanders shared a photo of air traffic controllers from Vermont, one sporting bright pink hair, with the caption: “I was pleased to meet air traffic controllers from Vermont today. Whether you’re flying from BTV or one of our state’s regional airports, these are some of the people keeping you safe. Let me thank the air controllers for the difficult and important work they do,”.
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But with recent aviation disasters—like the midair collision near Washington that killed 67, a fiery crash in Philadelphia, and a missing plane in Alaska, per AP News—Sanders’ attempt to inspire confidence is backfiring hard.
The photo, meant to highlight the controllers’ “difficult and important work,” instead screams chaos to many. “There’s a 50/50 chance you won’t make it out of this alive,” one commenter quipped, reflecting a growing unease echoed across X. The pink hair, while trivial to some, symbolizes a lack of seriousness to others, especially amid an overtaxed, understaffed air traffic control system that’s seen close calls and Trump’s recent firing of FAA staff, per AP News (web ID: 1, 3). Sanders’ past statements on aviation safety, like his 2021 FAA shutdown critique, per sanders.senate.gov (web ID: 2), add irony—he’s long warned of systemic risks, yet this image undermines trust.
For Trump patriots, this is a red flag. With Trump promising to replace the “obsolete” air traffic system after a string of incidents, per AP News, Sanders’ post feels tone-deaf. Web reports from notthebee.com confirm the viral backlash, while X users vent, “Pink hair in the control tower? I’m driving—thanks, Bernie!” Check the photo—it’s a stark reminder of why Americans are rethinking air travel.
Even Bernie isn’t comfortable with the pink haired bull nose ringed they/them:
