Just 11 days into his presidency, Donald Trump faced a national tragedy when a passenger jet carrying 64 people collided midair with an Army helicopter in the Washington, D.C., region Wednesday night. The crash resulted in dozens of fatalities and prompted an urgent federal investigation.
However, rather than following the traditional presidential approach of offering condolences and awaiting official reports, Trump quickly cast blame—using the tragedy to attack diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
His immediate response was met with sharp criticism from aviation experts, political figures, and advocacy groups, who accused him of politicizing the disaster before facts were known.
Trump’s Immediate Reaction: “I Have Common Sense”
On Wednesday night, just hours after the crash, Trump posted on social media, blaming diversity hiring for the incident—before any investigation had begun.
At a Thursday White House press briefing, Trump initially struck a somber tone, acknowledging the loss of life and thanking first responders.
“This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital,” he said.
However, he quickly pivoted to attacking DEI programs, claiming they had contributed to declining FAA safety standards under Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
“I do want to point out that various articles appeared prior to me entering office … the FAA diversity push includes focusing on hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities,” Trump stated. “That’s amazing.”
When asked how he could be so certain of DEI’s role in the crash just one day later, Trump dismissed concerns.
“Because I have common sense,” he replied.
Experts and Advocates Push Back
Trump’s remarks sparked an immediate backlash from aviation experts and civil rights groups.
Jeff Guzzetti, a former FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator, called Trump’s response “appalling” and unprecedented.
“I’ve been investigating aircraft accidents for 35 years,” Guzzetti told MSNBC. “I’ve never seen a government official circumvent the time-honored tradition of aviation crash investigations like this.”
The American Association of People with Disabilities condemned Trump’s statements as “extremely inappropriate.”
“FAA employees with disabilities did not cause last night’s tragic plane crash,” the organization said. “It is reckless for the president to push an anti-diversity hiring agenda before an investigation is complete.”
Pentagon Breaks Protocol, Reveals Military Casualties
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy joined Trump at the briefing.
Hegseth broke from long-standing Pentagon policy by disclosing the ranks of three service members killed before families were notified—a decision experts say violates military protocol.
Duffy, who lacks experience in transportation policy, struggled in his remarks, stating:
“It is not standard to have aircraft collide. I want to be clear on that.”
Trump’s Political Attacks Continue
Trump further escalated his rhetoric by attacking Pete Buttigieg, who served as Biden’s Transportation Secretary.
“That guy’s a real winner. … He’s a disaster,” Trump said. “He ran his city into the ground.”
Buttigieg responded on X (formerly Twitter), calling Trump’s remarks “despicable.”
“As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying,” he wrote.
Aviation Experts Debunk Trump’s DEI Claims
Despite Trump’s claims, aviation safety experts stress that DEI policies have no connection to aircraft safety failures.
John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems LLC, told MSNBC:
“There is no foundation for Trump’s comments. Safety standards apply equally to all aviation professionals, whether pilots, controllers, or dispatchers.”
He also pointed out that the NTSB—not the president—controls the release of crash investigation details, making Trump’s comments premature and potentially misleading.
The Bigger Picture: A Shift in Presidential Norms
Trump’s handling of the tragedy highlights his break from traditional crisis management, echoing his unconventional leadership style.
While previous presidents used national tragedies to unite the country, Trump’s response has deepened political divisions, shifting attention away from victims and recovery efforts to a controversial policy debate.
As the NTSB continues its investigation, Trump’s early finger-pointing has fueled concerns over how his administration will handle future crises.