Trump Said He Doesn’t Know What Caused the Crash, but Seemed to Blame DEI

Trump read aloud headlines about the FAA’s diversity push in remarks on a tragedy that left 67 people dead.

President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House.

The president confirmed that the government believes 67 people died in the collision. Jacquelyn Martin/AP

President Donald Trump appeared to blame the Federal Aviation Administration’s diversity and inclusion efforts for Wednesday night’s tragic aircraft collision that left 67 people dead.

“The FAA diversity push includes focus on hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities,” Trump said from the White House press room. “That is amazing.”

He said that people who work for air traffic control need to be “geniuses.” When reporters in the room pressed him on what evidence he has that DEI was to blame, Trump responded: “I have common sense, OK, and unfortunately, a lot of people don’t. We want brilliant people doing this.”