Trump faces ridicule over idea to stop Notre-Dame fire
As the Notre Dame Cathedral burned on Monday, President Trump offered a not very helpful suggestion: "Perhaps flying water tankers," he tweeted.
So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 15, 2019
France's Sécurité Civile, which deals with civil defence and crisis management, made it clear it had read and rejected Trump's tip. "All means are being used" to fight the flames, the group wrote in a rare English-language tweet, "except for water-bombing aircrafts which, if used, could lead to the collapse of the entire structure of the cathedral."
Hundreds of firemen of the Paris Fire Brigade are doing everything they can to bring the terrible #NotreDame fire under control. All means are being used, except for water-bombing aircrafts which, if used, could lead to the collapse of the entire structure of the cathedral.
— Sécurité Civile Fr (@SecCivileFrance) April 15, 2019
Star Trek legend George Takei was among those who mocked Trump over his idea.
Literally no one asked you. https://t.co/StFJHea2UD
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) 15 April 2019
Many Tweeters were left bemused by Trump's interjection.
Watching Donald Trump firesplain, via tweet, to heartbroken Parisians on how to help Notre Dame is a new level of surreal that is entirely unwelcome.
— Charlotte Clymer🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) 15 April 2019
BREAKING: The French government has just responded to Trump's suggestion of using "flying water tankers" on the Notre Dame fire in Paris:
They say that doing so could collapse the "entire structure".
Thank God Trump isn't a Parisian fire chief!#NotreDameFire— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) 15 April 2019
