Trump Blames Biden and Obama for Plane Crash

President Donald Trump faced scrutiny on Thursday, January 30, 2025, after blaming Democratic policies and diversity hiring initiatives for the deadly midair collision over Ronald Reagan National Airport. The crash, which resulted in 67 fatalities, involved an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter.

During a White House press conference, President Donald Trump linked the tragedy to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies from the Obama and Biden administrations. He asserted that while he prioritized safety, “Obama, Biden, and the Democrats put policy first” and elevated politics “to a level that nobody’s ever seen.”

Trump also alleged that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under President Biden had hired individuals with “severe mental disabilities.” However, FAA hiring policies have remained unchanged since 2013, spanning Democratic and Republican administrations, including Trump’s tenure.

Trump also signed two executive orders in response to the tragic midair collision. The orders included appointing Christopher Rocheleau as acting FAA administrator and a directive to assess aviation safety immediately.

Trump’s memorandum criticized how the FAA changed its hiring process for air traffic controllers during the Obama administration. Specifically, Trump claimed that the introduction of a biographical questionnaire—rather than relying primarily on aptitude-based testing—shifted the FAA’s focus away from objective measures of candidates’ skills and qualifications.

During his first term, Trump emphasized that his administration had “raised standards to achieve the highest standards of safety,” contrasting it with what he described as the Biden administration’s “dangerous ‘diversity equity and inclusion’ tactics.”

As some lawmakers raised concerns about DEI’s role in the accident, President Donald Trump claimed that diversity initiatives had compromised aviation safety. He referenced past discussions on FAA workforce diversity, stating, “A group within the FAA determined the workforce was too white” and alleging that officials had issued a directive declaring that.

Vice President JD Vance supported Trump’s stance, claiming that “many hundreds of people” had sued the government after being denied air traffic controller jobs “because of the color of their skin.” He vowed that such policies would end under Trump’s leadership, emphasizing that “safety is the priority of our aviation industry.”

When questioned about evidence linking DEI to the crash, Trump suggested that it “could have been” a factor, referencing “common sense” as justification. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins challenged his claim, asking if he was jumping ahead of the investigation.

Trump dismissed the challenge, saying, “No, I don’t think so at all.” When CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked if blaming DEI policies brought any comfort to the families, he responded, “They are a group of people that have lost their lives,” before criticizing her question as “not very smart.”

Amidst these remarks, criticism mounted over Trump’s recent federal hiring freeze and changes to the FAA’s hiring policies. Democrats warned that these moves could negatively impact aviation safety. Trump also removed the heads of the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard and disbanded a key aviation security advisory group. The air traffic controllers’ union previously cautioned that hiring freezes and staff cuts could pose serious risks.

CNN’s Dana Bash reacted with shock to Trump’s politicization of the tragedy, highlighting that recovery efforts were still underway. As live footage showed crews searching the Potomac River, she noted, “The bodies of the 67 people… are still being fished out” while Trump made his remarks. Bash also pointed out that he had provided no evidence to support his claims linking diversity initiatives to the crash.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. Officials have yet to release an official cause for the collision.

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