On Thursday, President Donald Trump provided an update on the tragic midair collision at Reagan National Airport, which resulted in 67 deaths. He began by observing a moment of silence for the victims, describing the incident as one of “anguish” and noting that there were no survivors. Trump emphasized that the investigation was ongoing but raised concerns about the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies on the disaster. He criticized former President Joe Biden’s administration, specifically pointing to the Department of Transportation and its focus on DEI under Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Trump described Buttigieg as a “disaster” and blamed him for mismanaging the department.

Trump also responded to a question from CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, who asked whether he was prematurely assigning blame. Trump dismissed her concern, stating that the identities of the victims weren’t essential to his argument and insisted that DEI policies might have played a role in the incident. He also criticized air traffic control and the military’s actions during the crash. Trump questioned why the helicopter did not alter its course or why air traffic controllers did not intervene more effectively.

Earlier, Trump had posted on Truth Social expressing his sorrow for the victims and offering thanks to first responders. He raised questions about the circumstances leading to the crash, suggesting that the helicopter’s failure to maneuver and air traffic control’s lack of intervention could have prevented the tragedy. Trump’s comments sparked controversy, with critics accusing him of politicizing the disaster before the full investigation was completed.

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