The Hoax
Trump Blamed The Aviation Disaster On People Of Color
Following the tragic midair collision between a commercial airliner and a U.S. Army helicopter near Washington Reagan National Airport on January 29, 2025, President Trump addressed the nation, offering condolences to the victims and their families while also raising concerns about federal aviation policies. The crash, which claimed the lives of 67 people, marked the deadliest American aviation disaster in over two decades.
During his remarks, Trump questioned whether diversity-focused hiring policies at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other federal agencies had compromised safety standards. He criticized efforts under the previous administration that encouraged hiring individuals with certain disabilities and emphasized identity-based diversity initiatives. Trump argued that aviation safety should prioritize competence above all else, stating, “We want the most competent people. We don’t care what race they are.”
What Really Happened
Trump Speculated The Aviation Disaster Might Be A Product Of DEI Policy That Mandates Skin Color Is More Valuable Than Competence
On January 30, 2025, a day after the crash, Trump was asked if race or gender played a role. He responded, “It may have, I don’t know. Incompetence might have played a role, we’ll let you know that, but we want the most competent people. We don’t care what race they are… You’re talking about extremely complex things, and if they don’t have a great brain… bad things will happen.” He also pointed to past FAA efforts to diversify its workforce (see image below), stating, “A group within the FAA determined that the workforce was too white, then they had concerted efforts to change that… in the Obama administration.”
While no evidence yet links DEI policies to the crash, these hiring practices, by definition, prioritize race and gender over raw competence. In aviation, where precision and expertise are critical, lowering standards for diversity quotas can introduce unnecessary risks. Trump’s critics called his remarks political, but questioning whether hiring based on identity rather than merit played a role in a mass-casualty event isn’t just fair—it’s essential.
It is also important to note that a new lawsuit filed against the FAA and the Department of Transportation alleges that the agency’s DEI policies led to lower hiring standards, potentially contributing to the tragic crash. It also alleges that 1000s of applicants were turned away because they did not meet diversity needs. The plaintiffs argue that prioritizing race and gender in hiring over merit and competence created an environment where less-qualified individuals were placed in critical roles, increasing safety risks. The lawsuit seeks to overturn DEI-based hiring initiatives and establish stricter qualification requirements for aviation personnel. If successful, this would imply that DEI practices put less competent individuals in charge of air traffic control.
Hoaxology
The following techniques were used to create this hoax:
Selective Reporting
The media focused heavily on Trump’s comments about diversity hiring while downplaying his repeated calls for competence and his acknowledgment that the cause of the crash was still unknown. This cherry-picking made it seem like Trump was blaming DEI with no basis, rather than questioning it in the context of aviation safety.
Highlighting Emotional Reactions
Instead of engaging with Trump’s argument, the media emphasized the outrage of figures like Pete Buttigieg and Chuck Schumer, making their emotional responses the story. This shifted focus from the real issue—whether DEI played a role in the crash—to a debate over Trump’s supposed insensitivity.
Appeal to Authority
Outlets framed Trump’s comments as baseless by quoting FAA officials and aviation experts who dismissed DEI concerns—without addressing whether DEI policies could affect hiring standards. This creates the illusion that the issue is settled when it hasn’t even been examined.
People with disabilities have to meet the same rigorous standards as other applicants, according to Chai Feldblum, a former commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission during both the Obama and first Trump administrations.
“Obviously you only hire a person with a disability to do a job for which they’re qualified,” Feldblum said. “I’ve seen no evidence that there are people with intellectual disabilities that have been hired to be air traffic controllers.”
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