President Donald Trump delivered remarks from the White House press briefing room Thursday morning following the tragic mid-air collision over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. The crash, which involved an American Eagle regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, marked the first major commercial aviation disaster in the U.S. in over a decade.
"I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for our nation," Trump said, calling the overnight search-and-rescue operation a "phenomenal job."
The mission has now shifted to recovery, with officials confirming that no survivors were found.
"We are in mourning. This has really shaken a lot of people."
The crash involved American Eagle Flight 5342, which departed Wichita, Kansas, with 60 passengers and four crew members, and an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers. The collision occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on what Trump described as a "very clear night."
In response, Trump announced Christopher Rocheleau as the acting commissioner of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), emphasizing the need for new leadership in air safety.
"For some reason, adjustments weren’t made," he said, without elaborating.
Trump took aim at the Biden administration and diversity hiring policies, arguing that they had lowered aviation safety standards.
"I put safety first. Obama, Biden, and the Democrats put policy first," Trump claimed.
He criticized the FAA’s diversity initiatives, referencing a policy that prioritizes hiring underrepresented individuals, including those with severe disabilities, as air traffic controllers.
"I don’t think so," he said. "Brilliant people have to be in those positions. You need a very special talent, a very special genius, to be able to do it."
Joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump suggested that DEI policies may have contributed to the crash, though he admitted the investigation has yet to determine the cause.
When pressed by reporters on how he linked diversity hiring to the accident, Trump responded:
"Because I have common sense."
His remarks sparked immediate criticism from Democratic leaders, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling Trump’s speculation "stomach-turning."
"It’s one thing for internet pundits to spew conspiracy theories," Schumer said. "It’s another for the President of the United States to throw out idle speculation while bodies are still being recovered."
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who was sworn in just a day earlier, outlined the government’s response, vowing a swift and thorough investigation.
"What happened yesterday shouldn’t have happened. When Americans take off in airplanes, they should expect to land at their destination."
Duffy rejected excuses and pledged that new safety measures would be implemented to prevent similar tragedies.
Hegseth provided details on the Army crew members, identifying them as a young captain, a staff sergeant, and a CW-2 chief warrant officer who were conducting annual retraining for a continuity of government mission.
"The military does dangerous things every day," Hegseth said. "Tragically, last night, a mistake was made."
With the investigation underway, Trump’s controversial remarks have already set off a political firestorm, making the administration’s handling of the tragedy a flashpoint in the national conversation.
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