Following President Donald Trump’s attempts to link diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to a recent fatal air collision in Washington, D.C., Fox News co-host Jessica Tarlov aired her criticisms, highlighting the inconsistencies in his claims and his administration’s own diversity programs.
Tarlov, during the January 31 episode of “The Five,” approved of Trump’s initial remarks but later took issue with the statements he made off-script during what should have been a solemn event. “Then he had a campaign rally in the middle of what should have been a somber occasion,” criticized Tarlov.
She cited the assessment of CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean, quoting, “What he said was not only unprofessional, unpresidential, inconsiderate of the status of the investigation, but it’s frankly unhinged.”
On January 31, 2025, a midair collision occurred over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. The accident, involving an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, led to 67 deaths, making it the deadliest U.S. air crash in over 20 years.
The Embraer E175 aircraft, which was carrying passengers such as young figure skaters, coaches, and family members, a civil rights attorney, and two Chinese nationals, collided with the military helicopter around 7:15 p.m. EST.
Challenging weather conditions impacted recovery efforts. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has managed to recover both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, pivotal to determining the collision cause.
The day before the crash, another aircraft had to abort its landing at Reagan National Airport because of a helicopter in its flight path. This incident has raised questions about the safety protocols for the complex airspace and the necessity for greater altitude separation between low-flying aircraft and helicopters.
Tarlov highlighted that the DEI policies, which Trump criticized, were put in place in 2013. She added, “He had every opportunity through his first administration to revoke them if he thought they were terrible, but he didn’t.” She also pointed out that Trump initiated a diversity program for air traffic controllers in 2019, which contrasts with his current viewpoint.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has clarified that DEI policies do not influence air traffic controller hiring, and no preferential treatment is given based on race, sex, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has not indicated whether DEI initiatives played any part in the crash, stating they would conduct a thorough investigation on all aspects.
Pete Buttigieg, the former Transportation Secretary, labeled Trump’s comments as “despicable,” emphasizing that safety was the top priority during the Biden administration, which recorded zero commercial airline crash fatalities.
Civil rights leaders and disability advocates have vehemently objected to Trump’s comments. The Congressional Black Caucus termed the remarks as “disgusting and disgraceful,” stating that DEI initiatives embody American values and benefit all citizens.
Tarlov also pointed to leadership gaps at key federal agencies, noting the absence of a Senate-confirmed FAA leader following Michael Whitaker’s resignation. She mentioned that Elon Musk, a Trump associate, had been pressuring Whitaker to resign for months, threatening to take legal action over proposed SpaceX safety requirement fines.
The investigation into the crash’s cause is still underway, with federal investigators meticulously examining all potential contributing factors. Aviation safety experts underline the significance of waiting for the investigation’s findings before drawing conclusions about the cause.
