DON TAKES ADVANTAGE

TOO SOON? President Trump quickly politicized the deadly train crash in Washington State on Monday, tweeting that it showed the need for funding infrastructure — even though the rail line was basically brand new. “The train accident that just occurred in DuPont, WA shows more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly,” he tweeted about four hours after the crash. Trump followed his first tweet 10 minutes later by offering his condolences to all involved and thanks the first responders. The commander-in-chief has been quick to jump on the need for infrastructure after an accident or tighter security after a terror attack. But he complained when asked about gun control in the immediate aftermath of the mass shootings that left 58 dead in Las Vegas and killed 26 worshipers at a Texas church, saying it was too soon to talk policy. It’s also murky what the President meant about infrastructure, because Washington State’s Department of Transportation has poured $800 million into this particular rail line. The Amtrak 501 was on its maiden trip from Seattle to Portland, Ore., on Monday when the accident occurred. Washington, which operates the line with Oregon, has financed 20 projects with $800 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — the February 2009 stimulus bill. The ill-fated train was one of two between Seattle and Portland that Amtrak Cascades added to its service for a total six between the cities. The new route for the train was intended to shave 10 minutes off the trip, according to the Washington Department of Transportation.