President Donald Trump defended his comments about whether the policy of diversity, equity and inclusion (dei) played a role in the disastrous aircraft collision above the capital of the country in which 67 people were killed.
Trump, who spoke with reporters in the briefing Room of the White House on Thursday morning, emphasized the efforts of the BIDen administration to reduce aviation standards, although he acknowledged that the cause of Wednesday evening Crash must still be determined.
CNNGastheer Kaitlan Collins objected to Trump’s rhetoric and called him for “blaming Democrats and dei policy and air traffic controller and apparently the member of the US Army who flew that Black Hawk -Helikopter.”
She asked: “Don’t you think you are now in front of the investigation?”
President Donald Trump locked Hoorns with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins about his rhetoric about the plane crash. (Screenshot/Fox News Channel)
“No, I don’t think so at all. I don’t think you mean the names of the people who are on the plane?” Asked Trump. ‘Do you think that will make a difference? They are a group of people who have lost their lives. If you want a list of names, we can give you that, we will give it very quickly. We are in coordination with American Airlines. We are of course in coordination, of course, with the army. “
The president told the News personality“I think that is not a very smart question, I am surprised, come from you.”
A American Airlines Jet With 60 passengers and four crew members, with a military black Hawk -helicopter with three service members on Wednesday evening in the air in Washington DC, causing the Wrakage of both aircraft to collapse the Potomac River. There were no survivors.
The tragic incident has caused a national conversation about flying security in the United States.
5 of the deadliest American air disasters
An FBI agent wears debris, after American Eagle Flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while he approached Ronald Reagan Washon National Port and crashed in the Potomac River, in Arlington, Virginia, US January 30, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
Earlier in the press conference, Trump noted that during his first administration he had raised the qualification standards for air traffic controllers, but he said that President Joe Biden had lowered them as soon as he left office.
“The FAA actively recruits employees who hire serious intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems and other mental and physical disorders under an initiative for diversity and inclusion, on the website of the agency,” Trump said.
Fox News’ Other Hagstrom has contributed to this report
