Donald Trump blames DEI for Washington plane crash - but what exactly does it mean?

Donald Trump has shared his thoughts on the causes of the American Airlines plane crash as around 70 people are feared dead.

An American Airlines regional passenger jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the freezing Potomac River after a midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night.

After reportedly making a "joke" about the tragedy, Trump then allegedly passed blame onto Obama and Biden, branding air traffic control as a "disaster".

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The President also blamed DEI for the crash, saying the disaster “could have been” caused by DEI policies at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

But what exactly does "DEI" mean? Here's everything you need to know about DEI and how Trump blamed it on the Washington crash.

What is DEI?

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a framework that aims to ensure fair treatment for all people. DEI is often used in the workplace to create a welcoming environment for people of different backgrounds.

Race, gender, ethnicity, ability, disability, religion, culture and sexual orientation are all factors that should be considered when ensuring a workplace or organisation is diverse, equal and inclusive.

How did Trump blame the crash on DEI?

Trump seemed to attribute the crash to a "diversity push" at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

He speculated: "I do want to point out that various articles that appeared prior to my entering office. And here's one, the FAA's diversity push includes focus on hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities. That is amazing.

"And then it says FAA says people with severe disabilities are most underrepresented segment of the workforce said they want them in, and they want them, they can be air traffic controllers.

"I don't think so. This was January 14, so that was a week before I entered office. They put a big push to put diversity into the FAA's programme."

The President seemed to attribute this alleged "diversity push" to causing the crash.

He said: "Brilliant people have to be in those positions, and their lives are actually shortened, very substantially shortened because of the stress where you have many, many planes coming into one target, and you need a very special talent and a very special genius to be able to do it."

Trump's defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, backed up the baseless idea that the crash was due to diversity policies: “The era of DEI is gone at the defence department and we need the best and brightest.”

But there is no evidence to suggest DEI among air traffic controllers was responsible for the crash.

The incident near Ronald Reagan National Airport has led to a massive search and rescue operation and as of Thursday night, authorities have said all 64 people on the American Airlines flight were presumed dead.

But it is feared that there are no survivors of either aircraft, as the search for remains continues in the Potomac River.

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