President Donald Trump blasted the Federal Aviation Administration's DEI standards at a press conference addressing Wednesday night's deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.

Trump said he didn't know what caused the crash, but said "we have some very strong opinions and ideas."

Musk has publicly clashed with the FAA and its former chief, Michael Whitaker. The Federal Aviation Administration is facing its first major aviation disaster in 16 years without a leader because Elon Musk helped push him out.

The country’s first major air disaster in more than 15 years hit while the Federal Aviation Administration doesn’t have a permanent leader. President Trump hasn't named a nominee for FAA administrator,

While that office may be ready to go to work, the FAA itself is not fully on the job. That’s because it’s without an administrator. Michael Whitaker, who had led the administration since Oct., 2023, stepped down earlier this month,

The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions," Trump said.

President Trump implied diversity push in the Federal Aviation Administration may have played a role in the crash, injecting a partisan note just moments after sounding a moment of unity and grieving.

Before the additional flights were approved, a senator warned that the increase could heighten the risk of collisions.

RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann questioned President Trump at a press conference on the Army helicopter-passenger jet collision. PHILIP WEGMANN, REAL CLEAR POLITICS: Thank you, Mr. President.

Donald Trump appeared to place blame on DEI initiatives at the Federal Aviation Administration while speaking on the tragic plane crash in Washington, D.C.

The deadly collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night came a week after President Donald Trump ordered changes to Federal Aviation Administration hiring policies which the White House claimed would restore “excellence and safety” at the agency.