After tragic plane crash: Trump blames diversity

By Julia Naue, Luzia Geier, Christiane Jacke

Washington, D.C. (USA) - Following the fatal plane crash in the US capital Washington, US President Donald Trump (78) is blaming diversity programs in air traffic control for the accident.

Donald Trump (78) believes the FAA's (Federal Aviation Administration) hiring practices are to blame.
Donald Trump (78) believes the FAA's (Federal Aviation Administration) hiring practices are to blame.  © Alex Brandon/AP/dpa

The programs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were aimed at "hiring people with severe mental and psychological disabilities", said the Republican in the White House.

He attacked the policies of his Democratic predecessors Barack Obama (63) and Joe Biden (82).

"For me, safety comes first. For Obama, Biden and the Democrats, politics comes first," said Trump.

When asked by a journalist how he could come to the conclusion at this point in time that diversity programs at the FAA had something to do with the accident, Trump said: "Because I have common sense, okay? And unfortunately a lot of people don't have that."

At the same time, the Republican said elsewhere: "We don't know what led to this crash."

Trump disparages former transport minister

A helicopter carrying out search and rescue work around the wreck of the plane in the Potomac River. All 67 passengers are believed to have died in the accident.
A helicopter carrying out search and rescue work around the wreck of the plane in the Potomac River. All 67 passengers are believed to have died in the accident.  © Carolyn Kaster/AP/dpa

Trump railed excessively about the FAA's recruitment practices.

People with impaired hearing or vision, missing limbs, partial or complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe mental disabilities and dwarfism all qualified for the position of air traffic controller, he claimed.

The US President also became entangled in contradictions. When asked whether people in the USA should now hesitate to travel by air, Trump replied: "No, not at all."

He said he did not assume that there would "ever again" be such a collision in the air. It remained open as to how he intends to replace allegedly unqualified air traffic controllers overnight.

Trump also disparaged Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (43), who had just left office. The Democrat had "run the FAA into the ground with his diversity", he said.