Just 11 days after his presidency, Donald Trump was faced with a national tragedy that claimed tens of lives After a jet of passengers carrying 64 people collided outdoors with an army helicopter to the Washington region, DC on Wednesday evening.
His response bypassed the usual game book that the presidents generally follow after a tragedy, just as his campaign has repeatedly broke political standards.
Without waiting for a complete investigation – or a list of victims – the president began to point the finger and attack. Rather than using it as a moment to give up political fight and focus on the victims, he took the opportunity to push his program against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
His approach has removed attention from recovery efforts, victims and the accident investigation into a debate on one of his biggest political targets. And while Trump faced criticism for his manipulation of the moment, it was in accordance with the way he avoided the functioning of traditional politicians.
Asset Quickly publish a publication on social networks Blame for the accident Wednesday evening, before many facts were known.
During a White House press briefing Thursday, he read a more traditional speech expressing condolences, but was then launched in remarks that more like a campaign rally, calling a democratic official ” A catastrophe, “castigating his predecessors and pursuing this – despite all proof so far that these policies have contributed to the open -air collision.
“I have been an investigator for 35 years, investigating plane accidents, and when you talk about standards, which we have just seen does not meet international standards published to provide information following an accident,” said Declared Jeff Guzzetti, a former investigator for the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, told MSNBC.
“I am not trying to be political here, but the information that came out … It was not correct. It has undermined the honesty of the investigation, “he added. “And I have never seen something like that, where a government official has circumvented the secular tradition of the plane accidents. And you know, personally, I think it is appalling that these comments, political comments, be made following the tragedy like this. »»
Trump was joined by two members of his cabinet, the newly confirmed defense secretary Pete Hegseth and the Secretary of Transport Sean Duffy.
During his remarks, Hegseth revealed the ranks of the three members of the service who were killed in the military helicopter. It was a break in the longtime policy of the Pentagon, which is that no information on any member of the service killed in the exercise of its functions was disclosed for 24 hours after all relatives were informed .
DUFFY – which has no context in transportation but acquired fame as a reality TV star before becoming a member of the Wisconsin Congress – has just started on Wednesday as a transport secretary. He fought on a separate press briefing on Thursday morning, telling journalists the obvious line: “It is not standard that planes collide. I want to be clear about it.
Trump opened the press briefing Thursday by thanking the federal agencies and the first speakers, and recognizing that there were probably no survivors.
“It was a dark and excruciating night in the capital of our country,” he said during sober remarks.
From there, Trump’s rhetoric has become more political. He blamed former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as “Democrats”, to support the diversity programs in the FAA.
“I would like to emphasize that various articles that appeared before participating in the office … The Diversity of FAA diversity includes focusing on the hiring of people with serious intellectual and psychiatric disorders,” said Trump. “It’s incredible.”
His comments came as the rescuers continue to search for dozens of bodies in the Potomac river.
Journalists asked Trump how he could know that diversity programs helped to provoke a tragic accident after a single day, and replied: “Because I have common sense.”
“FAA employees disabled did not cause Tragic plane crash last night, “said the American Association of People With Disabilities in a press release. “The investigation into the accident is still underway. It is extremely inappropriate for the President to use this tragedy to push an anti-divaire hose program. It makes all the Americans less safe. »»
At one point, a journalist asked Trump if he was taking ahead of the investigation by putting the blame even before the names of the victims were known.
“No, I don’t think at all. The names of the people – Do you mean the names of the people who are on the plane? Do you think it will make a difference? It is a group of people who have lost their lives, “said Trump, adding that a list would soon be published.
Trump also directly targeted Pete Buttigieg, who was Biden’s transport secretary.
“This guy is a real winner. … It is a disaster, “said Trump, without abundance. “It was a disaster as mayor. He ran his city in the ground and is a disaster. »»
“He just has a good line of bulls-” added Trump.
Buttigieg responded to X, calling the “despicable” Trump’s press conference.
“While families cry, Trump should lead, not lying,” he posted. “We put security first, have made close calls, have increased air traffic control and had no discrepancy from the commercial airline on millions of flights on our watch”, ” He wrote.
John Cox, pilot and president and chief executive officer of Safety Operation Systems LLC, told MSNBC that there was “no base” for Trump’s comments on FAA’s diversity programs.
“One thing to remember is that there are standards for everyone in aviation, especially in a critical security position, whether it is pilots, whether on -board agents, whether It is the distributors, whether it is air controllers, “he said.
He also said that the National Transportation Safety Board is the only agency authorized to disclose information on a survey, according to an international civil aviation treaty – which means that Trump, Hegseth and Duffy should not have done so.
In addition to the Dei programs among air traffic controllers, Trump also blamed a “pilot problem” in the helicopter and the bad view – “I cannot imagine people with a 20/20 vision that does not see what is happening up there. “
“Because it was visual, it was a very clear night,” said Trump. “It was cold, but clear and clear that you could.”
Until now, officials have not given any formal cause for the outdoor collision.
Trump, however, also said that he “did not blame the controller (air traffic)” and said the American people should not be afraid to fly.
“No, not at all,” said Trump. “I would not hesitate to fly.”
Duffy and Hegseth supported Trump on the issue of diversity during the White House press briefing.
“You have pointed out that when we manage security, we cannot accept the best and most brilliant security posts that have an impact on the lives of our loved ones, family members,” said Duffy. “And I think you make a really important point on this subject, Mr. President. It is the motto of your presidency, the best and most brilliant, the most intelligent that comes in these spaces. »»
Hegseth said that hiring practices should be “Daltonian and based on merit”.
During the press conference, Trump also appointed Christopher Rocheleau as an acting commissioner of the FAA, a position that had been vacant. He did not speak during the press conference.
The diversity of the aeronautical industry was highlighted by many conservatives at the beginning of last year when a panel exploded an Alaska Airlines plane at 16,000 feet.
After this incident, many right commentators And political figures began to underline without foundation Dei as a major problem in the air transport industry.
“I am sure that it has nothing to do with the compulsory practices of equity and inclusion of diversity in the air transport industry !!!” Donald Trump Jr. Posted on X In response to an article on a wheel falling from a Boeing 757. “The wheels do not just fall from planes without raw incompetence in the equation!”
Trump said The order he signed Shortly after taking office, it was to “restore the highest standards” of the FAA. It mainly aims at the agency’s programs.
“Their policy was horrible and their policy was even worse,” said Trump about past democratic administrations that included diversity programs. “So, as you know, last week, long before the crash, I signed an executive decree restaurant our highest standards for air controllers and other important jobs.”
The aviation industry has had A shortage of air controllers For years, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Projects will be around 18,000 pilot jobs The opening each year until 2033. Aviation experts told NBC News that DEI was not a problem in an industry where there are very few black pilots, and there is absolutely no evidence that The promotion of diversity has led to security problems.