Democratic figures have responded angrily to US President Donald Trump’s accusation that his Democratic predecessors Joe Biden and Barack Obama’s inclusion policies were to blame for the crash.
Trump accused the pair of having kept good employees out of the aviation agency in pursuit of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) — a decades-old policy aimed at combating racism and sexism.
“They actually came out with a directive: ‘too white,’” said Trump. “And we want the people that are competent.”
The US president also directed his remarks against Biden’s openly gay Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who had oversight of the agency.
“He’s run it right into the ground with his diversity,” Trump said.
Vice President JD Vance and new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth repeated, without evidence, the hard-right theory that diversity measures had kept capable individuals out of responsible jobs.
Asked if he was blaming workplace diversity for the crash, Trump answered: “It could have been.”
Buttigieg responded on X, calling Trump “despicable.”
“As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying,” he said.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said Trump’s comments “blaming the FAA’s hiring of women and black people for the crash, was disgusting.”
“He’s in charge. This happened on his watch,” Murphy said.
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