WASHINGTON ‒ Civil rights leaders and advocates for the rights of individuals with disabilities harshly criticized President Donald Trump on Thursday. They took issue with his suggestion that efforts promoting workplace diversity might have been connected to a fatal plane crash near the capital.

“Assigning blame for a heartbreaking aviation disaster to the very values that enrich our country, namely diversity, equity, and inclusion, is offensive and misguided. These principles actually strengthen our nation,” stated Margaret Huang, the president and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

During a press briefing at the White House on Thursday, Trump expressed his condolences to the families of the 67 victims who perished in the collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines plane as it was landing at Reagan Washington National Airport. He implicated diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives at federal agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration as factors in the disaster.

When asked about his rationale for linking DEI to the event, he replied, “I have common sense.”

Trump also asserted that jobs should be filled by “naturally talented geniuses,” criticizing the Biden administration for purportedly permitting individuals with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities to work at the FAA.

“They want these individuals to be air traffic controllers,” Trump remarked. “I disagree.”

Other officials from the Trump administration also mentioned DEI during the press briefing. “We aim to recruit the best and brightest for every role,” stated Pete Hegseth, the new Secretary of Defense. “The era of DEI is over at the Defense Department.”

These comments followed Trump’s signing of an executive order the previous week, mandating that federal agencies eliminate diversity, equality, and inclusion initiatives, including those focused on disabilities.

The administration has defended its stance by arguing that positions should be filled based on merit. Critics, however, argue that diversity initiatives complement rather than undermine merit-based hiring.

Huang and other civil rights leaders who held an online press conference after Trump’s comments argued that the crash had no connection to DEI.

“I find the president’s comments appalling and unworthy of his position,” said Huang, who had arrived at Reagan National shortly after the incident. “Above all, they are false.”

‘Enough is enough’

Over 20 national civil rights leaders, led by the National Urban League, convened last week to voice their concerns regarding Trump’s initiative to dismantle DEI efforts. Some emphasized that Trump’s remarks concerning the plane crash were indicative of his tendency to scapegoat marginalized groups.

“He is the ultimate divider of our time,” stated Damon Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, on Thursday. “Do not be deceived. He is employing fear tactics to foster division.”

Fatima Goss Graves, president of the National Women’s Law Center, expressed her dismay that leaders, including the president, were once again targeting diversity and equity shortly after a crisis, rather than taking responsibility for effective leadership in such times.

“Enough is enough,” she asserted.

In a separate statement, Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, criticized Trump for what he described as “unpresidential and divisive actions.”

“The president has clearly chosen to prioritize politics over people by using his high office to spread divisiveness based on falsehoods instead of providing the leadership we desperately need,” Johnson stated.

Advocates representing individuals with disabilities found Trump’s comments to be disrespectful.

“I’m not an FAA employee, nor do I work in aviation safety, but I understand that numerous factors play a role in any plane crash investigation, and the diversity hiring initiative is certainly not one of them,” said Jess Davidson, communications director for the American Association of People with Disabilities.

“There are stringent requirements for any job, and everyone hired must be competent,” she added. “Air traffic controllers face incredibly high standards. To suggest that individuals who are hired simply because of disability cannot perform their roles effectively is a misrepresentation and is deeply insulting to all who work in these positions, regardless of their background.”

Activists mentioned that they intend to explore legal avenues to challenge Trump’s executive orders, which they believe contravene civil rights laws in the country.

“We are firmly committed to ensuring this administration does not succeed in executing these actions,” Huang expressed. “We will pursue litigation, advocacy, and broad mobilization to communicate this message loud and clear: ‘We will not accept this.’”

Contributing: Erin Mansfield