After mourning the lack of victims in an air collision in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump pivoted rapidly to putting the blame.
He rapidly claimed that he had elevated security requirements throughout his first time period in workplace solely to have Joe Biden decrease them, after which extra straight blamed variety, fairness and inclusion applications, or DEI.
He additionally singled out former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, claiming that he has been utilizing “ line of bullsh*t” in main the division, which oversees the FAA and hires air site visitors controllers.
But in briefing with reporters Thursday on the White Home, Trump mentioned that “we have no idea what led to this crash, however we’ve some robust opinions.”
“We don’t know,” Trump mentioned later.
“The helicopter was within the unsuitable place on the unsuitable time, and a tragedy occurred.”
Requested why he thinks that DEI is responsible, Trump mentioned it was as a result of he had “frequent sense.” However he veered in who he thinks bears accountability, from air site visitors controllers to the pilots of the helicopter, saying that they “ought to have seen the place they’re going.”
American Eagle flight 5342, operated by American Airways subsidiary PSA, was carrying 60 passengers and 4 crew members. It collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Blackhawk, carrying three folks, over the Potomac River on Wednesday night time simply earlier than 9 p.m. native time. There are probably no survivors.
Investigators haven’t decided fault, as the reason for the crash remains to be beneath investigation. The Nationwide Transportation Security Board sometimes takes months or much more than a 12 months to finish and absolutely decide a trigger.
Trump immediately additionally constantly blamed Biden and even Barack Obama for his or her security requirements. However as he took questions from reporters, he was challenged on his assault on variety hiring language on the FAA web site, with “particular emphasis” on recruitment of these with bodily and psychological disabilities.
“I’m not blaming the controller,” Trump mentioned. “I’m saying there are issues you possibly can query like the peak of the helicopter and the peak of the aircraft being on the similar degree and going within the reverse instructions.”
NBC Information’ Peter Alexander mentioned to Trump, “The implication that this coverage is newer, that it stems from efforts that started beneath President Biden or the transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, is demonstrably false.” He mentioned that it had been on the FAA web site since 2013, confirmed by Snopes.com in a submit final 12 months.
“It was there for the whole thing of your administration, too. So my query is, why didn’t you alter the coverage throughout your first administration?”
Trump insisted that he did change the coverage, earlier than saying that Alexander’s questions had been “completely irrelevant and never superb questions.”
The FAA informed Fox Information final 12 months that job candidates nonetheless wanted to fulfill “rigorous {qualifications} that in fact will fluctuate by place.”
Trump additionally attacked one other reporter, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, for asking him, “Don’t you assume you might be getting forward of the investigation proper now?”
“That’s not a really sensible query,” Trump mentioned. “I’m shocked coming from you.”
Trump insisted that he had made reforms to FAA security requirements since coming to workplace. However quickly after the crash Wednesday night, a report of one other Trump motion circulated on social media: He fired the members of the Aviation Safety Advisory Committee. He additionally fired the heads of the Transportation Safety Administration and Coast Guard. Trump immediately named Christopher Rocheleau as appearing commissioner of the company. The FAA director, Michael Whitaker, resigned on January 20, the day of Trump’s inauguration. Whitaker had clashed with Elon Musk, who’s heading up the White Home’s Division of Authorities Effectivity.
All the main cable information networks carried Trump’s remarks, with CNN working a chyron that said, “With No Proof, Trump Blames DEI For Lethal Midair Collision.”
After Trump wrapped up the briefing, CNN reduce away to correspondent Pete Muntean, a pilot and flight teacher who covers aviation and transportation.
“I put my head in my fingers when the president mentioned that,” Muntean mentioned, referring to Trump’s blame on DEI.
“That is one thing that has been pushed by the far proper for a couple of months now that DEI insurance policies are responsible for a degradation of security in aviation in the US,” he mentioned. “However frankly the president is getting out forward of his skis right here. What he mentioned isn’t solely unprofessional, unpresidential, thoughtless of the standing of this investigation, however frankly it’s simply unhinged.”
Buttigieg responded to Trump’s remarks, writing on X, “Despicable. As households grieve, Trump ought to be main, not mendacity. We put security first, drove down shut calls, grew Air Site visitors Management, and had zero business airline crash fatalities out of tens of millions of flights on our watch. President Trump now oversees the army and the FAA. One in all his first acts was to fireplace and droop a number of the key personnel who helped preserve our skies secure. Time for the President to point out precise management and clarify what he’ll do to forestall this from occurring once more.”