"Despicable": Buttigieg fires back at Trump criticisms after deadly plane crash

• Buttigieg, an outspoken Democratic surrogate during the 2024 campaign, is widely considered a 2028 presidential contender.

Driving the news: Buttigieg defended his record as Transportation Secretary, saying, "we put safety first, drove down close calls, grew Air Traffic Control, and had zero commercial airline crash fatalities out of millions of flights on our watch."

• "As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying," Buttigieg said.
• Buttigieg also said that "one of [Trump's] first acts was to fire and suspend some of the key personnel who helped keep our skies safe."
• "Time for the President to show actual leadership and explain what he will do to prevent this from happening again," he added.

State of play: During his first press conference after the fatal plane crash, Trump expressed his condolences for the lives lost before skewering his political rivals and the FAA's diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

• Trump took specific aim at Buttigieg, saying: "A real winner. Do you know how badly everything has run since he's run the Department of Transportation? He's a disaster."

Between the lines: Buttigieg drew heightened scrutiny during his time as Transportation Secretary, as he navigated multiple transportation crises.

• Republicans repeatedly criticized Buttigieg over his handling of the crises, often trying to paint him as underqualified.

Go deeper: Trump touts national unity over air disaster before bashing Biden and Obama