Trump Enrages Activists For Blaming DC Plane Crash On DEI, Disabled People

The president implied that the crash was caused by the FAA's recruitment of people with "severe intellectual disabilities" and "psychiatric problems."

Disability rights activists swiftly condemned President Donald Trump’s remarks on Thursday in which he blamed diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, efforts and, specifically, disabled people for the deadly American Airlines plane crash that took place in Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday night, a commercial passenger jet and a military helicopter collided near Ronald Reagan National Airport. There were a total of 67 people on the flight, and no one is expected to have survived.

Following the fatal crash, Trump decided to peddle his anti-DEI talking points and blamed such initiatives for the incident.

“The [Federal Aviation Association] is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the agency’s website,” Trump said Thursday at a press conference. “Brilliant people have to be in those positions.”

In response, New Disabled South, an organization dedicated to advancing disability rights and justice in Southern states, released a statement on social media calling Trump’s assertion “dangerous, repugnant, morally reprehensible.”