The president implied that the crash was caused by the FAA's recruitment of people with "severe intellectual disabilities" and "psychiatric problems."

President Donald Trump began his White House briefing with a moment of silence and a prayer for the victims of Wednesday’s crash at Reagan National Airport.

There is no evidence that diversity efforts played a role in the crash, and his statements disregarded his own administration’s hiring policies.

Authorities declined to say what may have caused the deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night while the investigation is underway, even as President Trump and his allies sought to politicize the incident by blaming diversity efforts.

An American Airlines regional jet went down in the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.'s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after colliding with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night, with no survivors expected amid the extremely cold and windy conditions.

The plane crash at DCA raised questions about recent leadership changes within the federal agencies charged with regulating air travel.

Trump acknowledged that it was too soon to draw conclusions as he encouraged the nation to pray for the victims. But he moved nonetheless to assign blame.

Following the deadly midair collision between an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter, President Donald Trump put the blame on Federal Aviation Administration's diversity, equity and inclusion programs.