Trump Declares Proposed Systems Mean ‘You Wouldn’t Even Need Pilots’

President touts new ATC replacement equipment as ‘unbelievable.’

Caleb Revill

Thursday, May 08, 2025 at 05:41 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

President Donald Trump speaks [Shutterstock/Chip Somodevilla]

Key Takeaways:

President Trump suggested that new air traffic control (ATC) systems are so advanced that pilots may not be needed, though he quickly walked back the comment, stating he wants pilots.
He heavily criticized the current U.S. air traffic control system as outdated, inefficient, and a costly patchwork of old technologies, advocating for a complete overhaul.
Trump claimed that prior to his presidency, his pilots would "use the system of another country" when flying domestically due to the U.S. system's perceived inadequacy.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shared Trump's comments, thanking him for supporting the modernization of the air traffic control system.

See a mistake? Contact us.

President Donald Trump said that pilots may not even be needed with the new proposed air traffic control systems.

The comment was made in an apparent gaffe in which the president then doubled down upon while speaking to reporters on Thursday. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shared the video clip on social media Thursday afternoon, thanking the president for supporting the air traffic control (ATC) system overhaul.