WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: U.S. President Donald Trump takes a question from a reporter during a news conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
(EPICSTORIAN) – U.S. President Donald Trump raised diversity hiring concerns following devastating Washington DC air collision, where 67 lives were lost.
The deadly incident, which occurred late last night, involved an American Airlines flight and a military Black Hawk helicopter. Tragically, no survivors were found, with 64 passengers aboard the aircraft and three soldiers on the helicopter.
Trump called the disaster a moment of “anguish” for the nation, emphasizing that “our hearts are shattered” as Americans mourn.
While an official investigation is underway, Trump expressed strong opinions on the possible causes of the crash, though he provided little concrete evidence to support his claims.
Trump Points DC Air Collision to Diversity Hiring
The president repeatedly suggested that the hiring practices of his predecessors, particularly those linked to diversity programs, may have contributed to the tragedy.
Specifically, he argued that unqualified air traffic controllers, hired under the Biden and Obama administrations, could have played a role in the accident, though no factual backing for this assertion has been presented.
Trump claimed that air traffic controllers should be “the brightest, smartest, and psychologically superior” individuals for such high-stakes roles.
“We must have only the highest standards for those who work in our aviation system,” Trump said.
“Only the highest aptitude – you have to be the highest intellect – and psychologically superior people, were allowed to qualify for air traffic controllers.”
In addition to criticizing past hiring practices, the president pointed to possible errors made by the helicopter pilot. He questioned why the helicopter was flying at the same altitude as the plane, suggesting that the pilot’s decision to make a poorly executed turn was a crucial factor in the crash.
“The helicopter was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Trump declared. The president further noted that, despite the tragedy, the American Airlines flight was “doing everything right” and following standard procedures.
“We have to have our smartest people. It doesn’t matter what they look like, how they speak, who they are. What matters is intellect, talent. The word talent. They have to be talented geniuses,” he continued. “We can’t have regular people doing that job. They won’t be able to do it.”
He further pointed to a series of articles discussing the FAA’s “diversity push,” which he claimed took place before his tenure.
“The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the agency’s website,” he said.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also weighed in on the incident, acknowledging the possibility of a “mistake” in the crash, possibly related to an elevation issue. “It should never have happened,” he stated, offering condolences to the families of the victims.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of rigorous safety standards and expressing that “we will not accept excuses” in the investigation.
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The president vowed a comprehensive investigation to uncover the full details of the crash. He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that such an incident would never happen again, while also acknowledging the international scope of the tragedy, with nationals from multiple countries, including Russia, confirmed to be among the victims.
