On Wednesday night, a tragic midair collision occurred above Washington, D.C., between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter. The crash, which happened around 9 p.m. ET over the Potomac River, resulted in the deaths of all 64 people aboard the airplane and the three soldiers on the helicopter. The incident marks the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster since 2001.
Tragedy in Washington: Deadly Midair Collision
As first responders scoured the river on Thursday, John Donnelly, Chief of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services, confirmed that 28 bodies had been recovered. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation with cooperation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), American Airlines, and other agencies.
Trump Links DEI Policies to the Crash Without Evidence
During a White House press conference on Thursday, President Donald Trump initially struck a somber tone, calling for a moment of silence to honor the victims. However, he quickly shifted to criticize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, claiming they “could have been” a factor in the crash. Trump did not provide any evidence to support the link between DEI policies and the collision. When pressed by reporters on how he could connect the incident to DEI efforts, Trump responded, “Because I have common sense, OK?” He went on to criticize DEI hiring practices at the FAA, pointing to language from its website emphasizing opportunities for individuals with disabilities—a policy that has been in place since at least 2013, during his previous term.
Joe Biden and Barack Obama Also Named
Trump also aimed President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama, accusing them of weakening U.S. aviation standards. “I changed the Obama standards from very mediocre at best to extraordinary,” Trump claimed. He alleged that the Biden administration reversed those changes, leading to what he described as deteriorated safety conditions. Later in the day, Trump signed a memo calling for an immediate review of aviation safety, criticizing what his administration referred to as the “Biden DEI hiring programs.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed Trump’s comments, calling for merit-based hiring and declaring that the “era of DEI is gone” at the Defense Department.
Political Fallout and Responses
The comments drew swift backlash from political figures, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who accused Trump of politicizing a tragedy. “As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying,” Buttigieg said in an X post. He emphasized that during his time in office, the Transportation Department prioritized safety, reducing close calls and maintaining a record of zero commercial airline crash fatalities.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) also condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them “disgusting, racist, and sexist.” Omar blamed Trump’s administration for creating a hostile environment by scapegoating marginalized groups.
Meanwhile, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom assured employees that the NTSB would be the “sole source of truth” in the investigation. Trump announced that Christopher Rocheleau would serve as acting FAA commissioner following the recent departure of Mike Whitaker. Despite the criticism, Trump defended his administration’s safety record: “Flying is very safe. We have the safest skies in the world, and keep it that way.”
