Donald Trump Says DEI Is To Blame For D.C. Air Collision Despite Acknowledging That “We Do Not Know What Led To This Crash”

deadline.com:

After mourning the loss of victims in an air collision in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump pivoted quickly to placing the blame.

He quickly claimed that he had elevated safety standards during his first term in office only to have Joe Biden lower them, and then more directly blamed diversity, equity and inclusion programs, or DEI.

He also singled out former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, claiming that he has been using “a good line of bullsh*t” in leading the department, which oversees the FAA and hires air traffic controllers.

Yet in briefing with reporters Thursday at the White House, Trump said that “we do not know what led to this crash, but we have some strong opinions.” “We don’t know,” Trump said later. “The helicopter was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and a tragedy occurred.” Asked why he thinks that DEI is to blame, Trump said it was because he had “common sense.” But he veered in who he thinks bears responsibility, from air traffic controllers to the pilots of the helicopter, saying that they “should have seen where they are going.” American Eagle flight 5342, operated by American Airlines subsidiary PSA, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.