Despite the fact that the investigation into the deadly accident is still ongoing, President Donald Trump hinted Thursday at his first press conference since the plane crash over the Potomac River that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives may be to blame.
Trump stated Thursday morning that we must appoint our most intelligent individuals to serve as air traffic controllers. It makes no difference who they are, how they speak, or how they seem. They must be gifted, gifted by nature. Geniuses. Ordinary folks cannot perform their jobs. This job cannot be performed by ordinary persons. We’ll rebuild trust in American aviation, even though they can’t.
Trump talked extensively about the Federal Aviation Administration’s DEI programs, especially those implemented under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. He referenced the FAA’s admission that workers with impairments are underemployed.
According to the FAA website, “people with severe disabilities are the most underrepresented segment of the workforce, that they want them” to be “air traffic controllers,” Trump claimed one week before to taking office. I don’t believe so.
Additionally, Trump blasted Biden’s predecessor, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, labeling him a failure. However, Trump refrained from directly blaming the programs for Wednesday night’s midair collision when questioned by reporters.
Trump responded, “It just could have been,” when asked if he thought diversity hiring contributed to the catastrophe.
Trump continued by criticizing the Obama and Biden administrations for allegedly lowering air traffic controller standards in support of DEI. He claimed that their politics were even worse than their terrible program.
He noted that after a group at the FAA concluded that the workforce was overly white, they worked hard to persuade the government to make the change right away. This occurred during the Obama presidency.
“We have to hold everyone who works in our aviation system to the highest standards,” Trump stated.
Near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday evening, an American Eagle flight carrying 60 passengers and four crew members from Wichita, Kansas, crashed in midair with an Army helicopter carrying three people. Trump affirmed that no survivors were found.
The disaster happened during a regular, yearly (Army) retraining, night flights in a regular route, for a continuity of government mission, according to newly appointed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The military engages in risky activities. It regularly performs ordinary tasks. Unfortunately, something went wrong last night.
Trump signed an executive order on his second day in office that eliminated DEI programs at the FAA and throughout the federal government.
According to him, his directive was extremely effective in raising the bar for air traffic controllers.
Reporters questioned the president on Thursday if he was advancing the crash inquiry by asserting a link between DEI programs.
Trump’s response was straightforward: “I have common sense, okay?”
Derrick Johnson, the president of the NAACP, told NBC press that he was “disgusted” by the president’s remarks and said that Trump had used the press conference to further his political agenda.
“Instead of giving us the leadership we require and deserve, the President has made it apparent that he prioritizes politics above people by using the highest position in the nation to promote hatred based on lies.
We are pleased to see thousands of first responders in the DMV region come together to support the massive recovery work occurring on the Potomac, Johnson stated in reference to emergency response from personnel in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Trump appeared to absolve air traffic control later in the press conference by claiming that the chopper was clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In a post on X, Buttigieg swiftly reacted to the president’s statements, calling them “despicable.”
“As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying,” he stated.
“President Trump is now in charge of the FAA and the military. His initial actions included suspending and firing some of the important staff members who contributed to the safety of our skies. “It’s time for the President to demonstrate true leadership and outline his plans to ensure that this doesn’t happen again,” Buttigieg stated.
Air traffic controllers have been in short supply at the FAA for years. Black pilot Tennesse Garvey, who has been flying for 22 years, recently told NBC News that getting rid of DEI may make demand worse.
According to Garvey, there has never been evidence that DEI results in any safety problems since it doesn’t. And how can DEI be the issue if there is a problem with American aviation?Only 4 percent of pilots in this space are Black.