Former President Donald Trump addressed the press in the White House briefing room Thursday, defending his earlier comments linking Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives to the fatal mid-air collision over Washington D.C. the previous evening. The crash, involving a military helicopter and a commercial airliner, claimed the lives of all 67 people on board.

While acknowledging that the investigation into the crash was still ongoing, Trump pointed to the Biden administration's efforts to relax aviation standards as a potential contributing factor. He also mentioned concerns about the FAA's DEI hiring practices.

CNN's Kaitlan Collins challenged Trump's statements, accusing him of prematurely assigning blame before the investigation had concluded. She specifically questioned his focus on DEI policies and air traffic control, as well as his apparent implication of the military helicopter pilot.

Trump responded by questioning the relevance of the victims' identities to the investigation and emphasizing his administration's collaboration with American Airlines and the military. He also criticized Collins' line of questioning.

The collision involved an American Airlines jet with 64 passengers and crew and a Black Hawk helicopter with three service members. The wreckage of both aircraft fell into the Potomac River. The tragedy has prompted a national discussion regarding aviation safety protocols.

Trump stated that he had previously elevated the standards for air traffic controllers during his presidency but claimed these standards were subsequently lowered by the Biden administration. He specifically cited the FAA’s active recruitment of individuals with intellectual disabilities, psychiatric conditions, and other mental and physical limitations under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative.