Key Takeaways:
– President Donald Trump receives backlash for blaming diversity hiring and Democrats for a recent fatal mid-air crash.
– Trump’s comments draw additional controversy as the investigation of the incident by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has merely begun.
– The President’s use of a national tragedy to further his own political agenda has been denounced by critics and political opponents.
Trump’s Controversial Remarks
Post the horrendous mid-air collision that claimed over 60 lives, President Donald Trump stirred up controversy by blaming diversity hiring and Democrats for the incident without evidence. Despite the recent national aviation tragedy being America’s first fatal one since 2009, the President used the situation to make politically charged comments. Trump’s allegations extended to former Presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden and ex-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg too.
Improper Timing of The Comments?
What’s noteworthy is that the NTSB has only begun its investigation into the air collision, the results of which could take years to crystallize. Hence, the President’s comments preceding the conclusive findings of the incident have been heavily criticized. His accusations came minutes after he expressed that the incident shouldn’t be politicized and should unite Americans.
Diverse Hiring Policies Subject of Criticism
Donald Trump shed light on the Federal Aviation Administration’s focus on diversifying their workforce, which included hiring individuals with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities. Trump expressed his surprise and disapproval at the policy, suggesting that it might have played a part in the aircraft crash.
Claiming Superior Policies
The President didn’t shy away from taking a swipe at his predecessors either. He emphasized that his administration prioritized safety whereas Obama, Biden and the Democrats preferred policy. Trump boldly claimed that during his tenure, he improved upon Obama’s standards, which he deemed mediocre at best. However, after he left the office, he alleged that Biden lowered the standards even further.
Buttigieg – A Favored Target
Pete Buttigieg, the former Transportation Secretary didn’t escape Trump’s fury either. Trump called him a catastrophe and blamed him for ruining the Transportation Department with his diversity agenda.
Multiple Backlashes
As Trump’s comments continued to stir controversy, several voices raised against his politicizing of a national tragedy. Even former opponents like Pete Buttigieg expressed their disgust at Trump’s criticism. Buttigieg defended his track record on safety, highlighting zero commercial airline crash fatalities during his tenure.
Prominent political figures and critics also weighed in on Trump’s controversial comments. The President’s attempts at shifting blame, they argued, were inappropriate and a clear divide-and-conquer strategy to rally support.
DNC Chair and Senate Democratic Minority Leader Speak Out
Democratic National Committee Chair, Jaime Harrison, voiced his disgust. He stated that it was distressing to see the President instigating division instead of leading the nation in its mourning. Echoing his sentiments, Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that it was nauseating to hear the President propagate unfounded theories at such a sensitive time.
Speculations on the White House Memo
A recently posted memo on the White House’s website further fueled the controversy. It proclaimed President Donald Trump’s endeavors to eliminate the ‘DEI Madness’ and restore excellence and safety within the Federal Aviation Administration.
To sum it up, as the nation grieves over the recent air collision, Trump’s comments have ignited a nationwide discussion on the relevance of his blame and whether it’s a political gambit or a genuine concern.