Moment 36 – Blaming a Plane Crash on DEI Policies
After a tragic 2025 helicopter-plane collision in Washington DC, Trump didn’t hesitate to point fingers at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. He claimed Biden’s FAA hiring plan lowered standards, saying, “I changed the Obama standards from very mediocre at best to extraordinary… Then Biden took over and changed them back.” The backlash was immediate, with aviation experts and civil rights groups condemning the politicization of a disaster that claimed lives.
This moment exemplified Trump’s strategy of linking unrelated events to his culture war narratives, but it backfired spectacularly. Investigations later showed no DEI connection, yet Trump’s comments deepened divisions. Supporters echoed his “safety first” rhetoric, while critics accused him of fearmongering. The incident sparked protests and calls for FAA reforms, but Trump’s unapologetic stance only amplified the controversy, turning a somber event into another polarizing spectacle.
