President Trump used a fatal helicopter-plane crash near Ronald Reagan National Airport to push his political agenda, blaming diversity programs for the tragedy. This prompted criticism from both Republicans and Democrats who accused him of politicizing a tragedy.
By Isaac Arnsdorf, The Washington PostPresident Trump delivers remarks on the midair crash between American Airlines flight 5342 and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport. MUST CREDIT: Kent Nishimura for The Washington Post
Trump’s comments prompted rebukes from both Republicans and Democrats on Thursday, many of whom said the president was politicizing a tragedy and using it to further his agenda to reduce the federal workforce and end diversity programs. Trump has consistently rejected that role, instead inflaming divisions, as he did after the deadly white supremacist march in Charlottesville in 2017 and his supporters’ attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
“We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas,” he said. “And I think we’ll probably state those opinions now, because over the years I’ve watched as things like this happen and they say, ‘Well, we’re always investigating.’ ” “We can only accept the best and the brightest in positions of safety,” Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said. “We are going to take responsibility at the Department of Transportation and the FAA to make sure we have the reforms that have been dictated by President Trump in place to make sure that these mistakes do not happen again and again.”
Trump named as acting FAA administrator Chris Rocheleau, the chief operating officer of the National Business Aviation Association. The position was vacated on Jan. 20 by Michael Whitaker, who stepped down rather than complete his five-year term that would have ended in 2028. Whitaker drew bipartisan praise but was criticized by Trump donor and adviser Elon Musk after proposing fines for his SpaceX company.
TRUMP DIVERSITY CRASH AIRPLANE HELICOPTER POLITICAL AGENDA FEDERAL WORKFORCE
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