President Donald Trump has faced widespread criticism after using a tragic plane crash in Washington D.C. to attack diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. The crash, which occurred on January 29, involved a midair collision between American Eagle Flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, and an Army Black Hawk helicopter with three people on board. Tragically, all 67 individuals on both aircraft died in the incident.
Trump’s comments, made just hours after the crash, quickly sparked outrage. During a press conference, he suggested that declining standards in air traffic control, which he attributed to DEI policies at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), could have played a role in the crash. He also claimed that the disaster “could have been” caused by these policies.
The president used the opportunity to launch into a rant against DEI, with some key members of his administration backing his stance. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed Trump’s concerns, stating, “We can only accept the best and the brightest” for positions that impact passenger safety. Similarly, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that “The era of DEI is gone at the defense department,” while Vice President JD Vance argued that the U.S. should focus on hiring competent individuals for critical roles, rather than prioritizing diversity.
Vance also made unsubstantiated claims, suggesting that hundreds of individuals had sued the U.S. government because they were allegedly turned away from becoming air traffic controllers based on their race.
Trump continued to criticize the FAA, claiming that “very powerful tests” for air traffic control competence were “terminated” under President Joe Biden. He also suggested that the standards during his administration were higher, though he provided no evidence to support this. When questioned about his quick conclusions linking DEI policies to the crash, Trump confidently responded, “Because I have common sense, OK, and unfortunately, a lot of people don’t.”
The comments enraged many Americans, leading to a surge in online criticism. The hashtag #TrumpIsANationalDisgrace trended on social media, with people condemning his remarks as insensitive and divisive.
Trump, who returned to the White House earlier this month, has made attacks on DEI policies in the federal government a central focus of his political rhetoric. He continued his criticisms during a briefing on January 30, blaming the plane crash on the hiring of individuals with disabilities under DEI initiatives. Trump cited articles from before his presidency, including one that claimed the FAA had pushed for the hiring of individuals with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities.
He further stated, “Brilliant people have to be in those positions,” adding that the stress of managing air traffic requires a “very special talent” and that the lives of air traffic controllers are “substantially shortened” by the pressures of the job.
When asked if he would fire some of the diversity hires in the federal government, Trump responded, “I would say yes. If we find that people aren’t mentally competent … these are not people who should be doing these particular jobs.”
