11 days into his presidency, Donald Trump faced a national tragedy where a passenger jet crashed midair with an Army helicopter, leading to many casualties. Trump’s response deviated from the typical presidential playbook, with immediate finger-pointing and critiquing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Critics argued that Trump’s actions shifted focus away from the victims and investigation, making the tragedy political. Former aviation investigator, Jeff Guzzetti, criticized Trump for undermining the investigation and making inappropriate comments.
During a press briefing, Trump blamed former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, the Democrats, and DEI programs for the crash, disregarding the lack of evidence linking them to the accident. Trump faced backlash for politicizing the tragedy, with the American Association of People with Disabilities calling his agenda-driven comments inappropriate. Trump also made negative remarks about Pete Buttigieg, prompting criticism from Buttigieg himself.
Trump’s administration backed up his stance on diversity, reinforcing the need for merit-based hiring. Trump appointed Christopher Rocheleau as acting FAA commissioner and signed an executive order to restore high standards at the FAA by targeting DEI programs. However, aviation experts argue that diversity is not a safety issue in the industry.
Overall, Trump’s response to the tragedy was deemed inappropriate and politically motivated, with critics highlighting his lack of compassion for the victims and his tendency to make divisive statements. Additionally, the politicization of the tragedy and the focus on DEI programs were seen as distractions from the investigation and recovery efforts.
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