Trump bashes DEI during press briefing on D.C. plane crash
Source: ROBERTO SCHMIDT / Getty
President Donald Trump gave a press briefing on the deadly helicopter-plane crash that occurred late Wednesday night near D.C., during which he attacked DEI policies.
Trump, speaking at the White House, said that DEI “could have been” to blame for the collision between the American Airlines jet and Army helicopter that occurred over the Potomac River near Washington D.C.
Trump highlighted efforts by the Biden administration to lower aviation standards, though he acknowledged that the cause of Wednesday night’s crash has yet to be determined.
“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.”
“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 later credited the crash to a “confluence of bad decisions that were made.”
The American Airlines jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members when it collided with the military Blackhawk helicopter, which was carrying three service members. Trump confirmed that there were no survivors.
