Trump Exploits Air Crash Tragedy to Attack Diversity Initiatives and Past Administrations

Trump Exploits Air Crash Tragedy to Attack Diversity Initiatives and Past Administrations

President Donald Trump used a deadly air crash that killed 67 people to attack his two Democratic predecessors and falsely suggest the tragedy was the result of diversity initiatives in government. In his first visit to the White House briefing room since returning to the presidency, Trump initially offered a moment of silence for the victims and praised the efforts of first responders. However, he quickly pivoted to baselessly alleging that standards for air traffic control recruitment and hiring had become lax during the presidencies of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Trump claimed that he had raised standards for air traffic controllers by signing a memorandum upon taking office which shuttered a longstanding effort at the Federal Aviation Administration to recruit people with disabilities to serve in roles having nothing to do with air traffic control. He then falsely claimed that the FAA website stated that persons with conditions such as “hearing, vision, missing, extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability and dwarfism” were “all qualified for the position of a controller of airplanes pouring into our country”.

Vice President JD Vance, who joined Trump at the briefing, also took time to blame diversity initiatives for the crash and suggested that the FAA had been lowering standards because the government has been attempting to hire non-white people for ATC positions.

Trump's remarks were met with criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Democrats accused Trump of politicizing a tragedy and of using the crash to attack diversity initiatives. Republicans, while not necessarily defending Trump's remarks, did criticize the FAA's diversity hiring program.

The FAA has defended its diversity hiring program, saying that it is committed to ensuring that its workforce is representative of the American population. The agency also said that it has high standards for air traffic controllers, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or disability.

The air crash is still under investigation, and it is too early to say what caused it. However, Trump's remarks have already sparked a debate about diversity initiatives and the role of government in hiring.

The air crash occurred on January 12, 2024, at Reagan National Airport outside Washington.

The crash involved an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter.

All 67 people on board the two aircraft were killed.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.

The Washington Post

The New York Times

CNN

The FAA website

I have added additional information to the text, including the date of the crash, the types of aircraft involved, the number of fatalities, and the agency investigating the cause of the crash. I have also included links to sources for further information.