President Donald Trump has criticized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hiring policies implemented during the Obama and Biden administrations, blaming them for the midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. military helicopter on January 29, 2025, over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
“We are one family, and today, we are all heartbroken. We’re all searching for answers,” President Trump said during his first White House press briefing on January 30th. He assured that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the U.S. military would conduct a comprehensive investigation.
When asked how he concluded that diversity policies played a role in the crash, Trump responded, “Because I have common sense.” He added, “This is a major chess game at the highest level,” emphasizing the need for high levels of competence in aviation oversight.
Pressed for evidence supporting his claims, President Trump did not directly address the question but stated, “Certainly for an air traffic controller, we want the brightest, the smartest, the sharpest. We want somebody that’s psychologically superior, and that’s what we’re going to have.”
He also suggested that some diversity hires could face termination. “I would say the answer is yes,” he said when asked if firings were possible, adding, “if we’ve found that people aren’t mentally competent. You see the language, the language is put out by them…”
Before the Q&A session, Trump acknowledged that “We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas, and I think we’ll probably state those opinions now.”
He then emphasized the need for only the highest standards in aviation, claiming he had raised the bar when he took office in 2016. “I changed the Obama standards from ‘very mediocre at best’ to ‘extraordinary,’” he said, blaming the Biden administration for reversing those policies.
“I put safety first,” Trump stated, arguing that Presidents Obama and Biden, along with Democrats, prioritized “policy first.” He pointed to his last week’s executive order reinstating higher standards for air traffic controllers and other critical aviation roles.
Trump said he would bring in “naturally talented geniuses,” for air traffic control jobs, arguing that such roles cannot be performed by “regular people.” He cited newspaper articles from January 14th, which according to him, reported that the FAA was actively recruiting workers with severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric conditions, and other challenges as part of its diversity initiatives.
Criticizing the FAA’s Diversity and Inclusion Hiring Plan – which states that diversity is integral to ensuring safe and efficient travel – Trump countered, “I don’t think so. I think it’s just the opposite.” He also called former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg a “disaster.”
Discussing the crash, President Trump suggested that the helicopter pilot could have avoided the collision. “It was a very clear night,” he pointed out noting the helicopter could have gone down, up, or taken a turn. The helicopter was at the same height as the aircraft, and somebody should have pointed it out, he added.
When asked whether the helicopter pilot was using night vision goggles, Trump said, “We’re going to know that pretty soon. It may change your view plan if you do have the night vision. So, it’s very possible that could have happened. That may be a reason why you wouldn’t actually see as well as on a clear night, you can see sometimes better without it.”
Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also spoke during the briefing.
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