Buttigieg pointed out that the U.S. hadn't had a deadly airline crash in 16 years and that Trump fired "key personnel who helped keep our skies safe."

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg swiftly shot back against President Trump's criticisms of him during a Thursday press conference, less than a day after a deadly plane collision outside Washington D.C. Why it matters: Buttigieg's comments represent one of his strongest public rebukes of Trump since he took office last week.