A recent online video captured the harrowing moments when a family's boat sank during a "Trump boat parade" held in Portland's Willamette River.
As the video illustrated, the parade appeared to produce rather large waves in the moments leading up to the boat's capsizing.
Ultimately, the boat owner was not able to maintain control of the boat in those conditions.
Trump boat parade overtakes the Willamette River in Portland, OR and sinks nearby families boat 🤬 https://t.co/RMZbHHFuFW— Jimi R🖖🏻 (@Jimi R🖖🏻) 1597618250.0
KGW8 has reported that river patrol deputies from the Multnomah County Sheriff's responded to a call when the incident took place. When they arrived, however, the group had already been picked up by nearby boaters.
KGW8 went on to state that the family—of which no members were hurt—was not participating in the wave-producing parade.
In response to the video, the internet launched in all kinds of directions.
Some were appalled at what they felt was reckless behavior on the part of the Trump supporters in the parade.
@JimiRosenkrantz @EsoOrc That is Trump in a nutshell. Ordinary people suffer for absolutely no reason other than M… https://t.co/9eyMzhkRfz— JRehling (@JRehling) 1597634161.0
@jimirosenk Every member of this riot-by-boat is guilty of crime under Oregon statute: https://t.co/TGBfdjX8Sa— Robert Mahon (@Robert Mahon) 1597670158.0
Some criticisms of the parade came from others who were there on the water that day.
@JimiRosenkrantz I was in the sailboat in the video at this moment, you can hear our air horn blasting as they were… https://t.co/5mfiZkQwth— right(adviseth,4) (@right(adviseth,4)) 1597639629.0
@jimirosenk We were on river during Trump Parade across from Willamette Park - similar sized boat. Surprise Parade… https://t.co/oG9Gu4cN2r— Heath (@Heath) 1597679280.0
@SpeakServeGrow @JimiRosenkrantz @TheRealCoryElia I live on the Willamette River... you couldn't paddle or kayak to… https://t.co/1yD7csW7lw— mère de deux (@mère de deux) 1597625145.0
Others, though, cast doubt on the theory that the parade caused the boat to sink.
They instead threw blame on the sinking boat's captain.
@JimiRosenkrantz @colewagoner Just turn into the waves ... Did these people not take boaters education?— Ross (@Ross) 1597623835.0
@JimiRosenkrantz @LaMichaelJames Those waves should never sink a boat that size. Obviously they had some mechanical… https://t.co/o9f5oJ94E4— davidodell (@davidodell) 1597630785.0
That life jacket PSA was a common response.
@JimiRosenkrantz I would just like to point out that this is why it's important to wear life vests. There are multi… https://t.co/LASaEGsgO2— Nina Johnson (@Nina Johnson) 1597623278.0
An incident like this—along with the online commentary about it—exemplified a well-known truth about the current state of the USA. Everything can be politicized.
In this case, it was a sinking boat.