During a press conference following the plane crash near Washington D.C. last night, U.S. President Trump criticized his predecessors Obama and Biden. After observing a moment of silence for the victims and their families, President Trump devoted most of the conference to criticizing their policies.
Trump claimed that their efforts to diversify the civil service staff led to unsafe conditions at the FAA, the U.S. aviation authority overseeing air traffic control. Trump provided no evidence for this claim, and the crash’s cause remains unknown.
There is currently no indication that air traffic control made an error. However, the U.S. has faced a long-standing shortage of air traffic controllers, and congestion at Washington D.C.’s airport has previously nearly caused accidents, most recently in May 2024.
Trump stated, “Safety comes first with me,” advocating for only “talented” individuals at air traffic control and referencing “a document” he claimed was policy under Biden and Obama promoting recruitment of individuals with severe mental and physical disabilities. When asked if his predecessors’ diversity policies caused the crash, Trump responded, “It very well could be.” His remarks drew significant criticism from Democratic leaders.
Senator Chuck Schumer condemned Trump’s statements as “sickening,” while Pete Buttigieg, Biden’s Transportation Secretary, highlighted zero plane crashes under his tenure despite millions of flights. The investigation into the crash continues.
The National Transportation Safety Board, responsible for investigating aviation incidents, stated that they have about 50 people working non-stop and aim to release a preliminary report within a month. The flight data black boxes have not yet been located, but they are committed to uncovering the crash’s cause.
Source: NOS