President Trump shared his “thoughts and prayers” for the sailors of the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald after it collided with a merchant vessel off the coast of Japan early Saturday morning local time.
“Thoughts and prayers with the sailors of USS Fitzgerald and their families. Thank you to our Japanese allies for their assistance,” the president said Saturday morning on Twitter, just as he and the first family were traveling to Camp David for the weekend.
Thoughts and prayers with the sailors of USS Fitzgerald and their families. Thank you to our Japanese allies for their assistance. https://t.co/d1l5ctjNyB
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 17, 2017
Vice President Mike Pence said he and his wife Karen are also sending their prayers to the sailors of the Navy vessel.
Karen and I join @POTUS in keeping the sailors of the USS Fitzgerald & their loved ones in our prayers. https://t.co/WUfyW2XwqS
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) June 17, 2017
The USS Fitzgerald returned to Yokosuka, Japan about 16 hours after the collision which caused significant damage and flooding. Seven U.S. Navy sailors remain unaccounted for, and a search for them is ongoing.
