WASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) (ITALPRESS) – Following the dramatic aviation collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington, President Donald Trump signed an aviation order permanently canceling federal diversity initiatives. According to the tycoon, the presidential memorandum on aviation safety will be able to end the “damage” done to affected federal agencies by the Biden administration.
Trump also criticized the former Democratic president because of his policies to promote diversity and inclusion in the White House. “What they did is shameful,” he said. While intent on signing the new memorandum in the Oval Office, Trump repeated, without accompanying evidence, his past claims that federal diversity programs contributed to the collision of a helicopter and a regional jet near Washington.
According to Trump, the memo can help ensure that there are “very strong people at the helm of key aviation agencies.” While the nation was reeling from the deadliest air disaster in two decades, which claimed 67 lives, the president questioned the capabilities of the pilot present on the U.S. Army helicopter involved in the collision with the commercial airliner.
As Trump delivered his speech the federal investigation had just begun and first responders were still working to recover the bodies from the Potomac River. Officials have not yet formally determined the cause of the collision, and Trump himself acknowledged that it was too early to draw conclusions, encouraging the country to pray for the victims.
However, subsequent speculation followed by as many political attacks have generated much controversy at a time when Americans traditionally look to the presidency for comfort, reassurance and hard facts. A group of lawmakers issued a statement accompanied by strong condolences for the victims of the Washington plane crash, sharply criticizing Trump’s accusations at such a sensitive time: “We hope the outpouring of condolences and support from people across the nation brings comfort in this season of mourning. However, the opportunity to fully focus our condolences on those who are grieving and who may not have even recovered their deceased loved ones has been marred by a truly disgusting and shameful display of racist political predictions.”
-photo Photogram Agency.
(ITALPRESS).
Trump signs order on aviation and cancels federal diversity initiatives
