CNN’s Kaitlan Collins confronted Donald Trump on his repeated suggestions that the deadly plane crash at Washington, D.C.‘s Reagan National Airport stemmed from governmental diversity, equity, and inclusion guidelines.
Trump lashed out at Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s past administrations for the fatal collision Wednesday evening between the military helicopter and American Airlines flight.
He also railed against former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, claiming he ran the Federal Aviation Association right into the ground “with his diversity.”
But as Trump took questions from reporters, many of them pushed back on how the president arrived at that conclusion as the investigation had just begun. Collins pressed him on how he could blame Democrats and DEI policies when officials have not yet released the names of those onboard the American Airlines flight. “Don’t you think you’re getting ahead of the investigation right now?”
Trump dismissed the question and promised to disclose the names. “You think that’s going to make a difference?”
But Collins pushed back, questioning whether his line of attack could truly bring solace to those who lost their lives. “Does it comfort their families to hear you blaming DEI policies?”
Trump wouldn’t bite, instead using the moment to attack Collins. “That’s not a very smart question,” he said. “I’m surprised, coming from you.”
Trump also promised to fire people he believed were hired solely to address diversity concerns, saying they “aren’t mentally competent” without providing evidence to prove that. He also told a New York Times reporter that his “common sense” allowed him to claim diversity was the cause of the crash without proving such.
But after NBC News reporter Peter Alexander told Trump that diversity language on the Federal Aviation Administration’s website had remained there throughout his first term, stemming from 2013, Trump falsely claimed he changed the policy before Biden and Buttigieg reversed it. “I signed a new order bringing it to the highest level of intelligence,” Trump said.
The disaster shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday claimed 64 lives aboard the American Airlines flight as it was attempting to land, and also killed three Army Black Hawk helicopter crew members.
No official cause has been released for the collision, but the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.