Without evidence or shame, President Donald Trump speculated that Democrats and diversity initiatives could be to blame for the deaths of 67 people in the plane collision in Washington Jan. 29.
As Trump spoke, first responders were still working to recover bodies from the wreckage of the commercial jet and army helicopter from the Potomac River.
As the nation reeled from the deadliest American aviation disaster in more than two decades, Trump baselessly blamed diversity initiatives for undermining air safety.
Sixty-seven people died the evening of Jan. 29 when a passenger plane and a military helicopter collided in midair.
Instead of offering comfort and assurances to the nation, Trump spent most of his press conference in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy engaging in reckless accusations.
Trump said President Joe Biden’s administration encouraged the Federal Aviation Administration to recruit workers “who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative.” He added that the program allowed for the hiring of people with hearing and vision issues as well as paralysis, epilepsy and “dwarfism.”
Trump did not provide any evidence that unqualified people were being put in critical positions like air traffic control.
When asked why he was blaming diversity initiatives, Trump said, “because I have common sense, and unfortunately a lot of people don’t.”
Trump complained specifically about Pete Buttigieg, who was Biden’s transportation secretary, calling him “a disaster.”
“He’s run it right into the ground with his diversity,” Trump said.
Buttigieg responded in a post on X, calling Trump’s comments “despicable.”
“As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying,” he added.
Vice President JD Vance, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed Trump’s concerns about diversity programs and hiring.
“When you don’t have the best standards in who you’re hiring, it means on the one hand, you’re not getting the best people in government,” Vance said, “But on the other hand, it puts stresses on the people who are already there.”
Since taking office, Trump has issued a series of executive orders aimed at dismantling Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs across the federal government and the private sector.
DEI programs seek to ensure fairer representation for groups seen as historically marginalized such as African Americans, women, LGBTQ+ community members, and disabled people.
There is no evidence that diversity initiatives had anything to do with last week’s plane crash.
However, federal officials have been raising concerns about an overtaxed and understaffed air traffic control system. Two of Reagan National Airport air traffic controllers were doing double duty the night of the collision.
The plane crash was the first major disaster of Trump’s new term, and his response evoked his briefings on the COVID-19 pandemic. At those briefings, Trump often made wild inaccurate assertions.
His response to the plane crash shows a president who is quick to assign blame and willing to say anything to promote his political agenda.
The news media and elected officials have to stop being afraid of Trump and strongly condemn him when he makes reckless and racists remarks or attempts to go beyond his presidential authority.
Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune
About Post Author
