Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has sharply criticized former President Donald Trump's response to the recent mid-air collision between a military helicopter and a commercial aircraft in Washington, D.C. Pritzker accused Trump of being "unfit to lead" during crises, citing Trump's suggestion that the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives contributed to the tragedy.
Pritzker called on the Trump administration to provide factual information to reassure the public about aviation safety. He condemned Trump for allegedly blaming individuals with disabilities and military personnel before victims had even been identified. Pritzker emphasized that the ultimate responsibility lies with the president, who he believes failed to demonstrate leadership and protect the American people.
Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, has frequently clashed with Trump. He recently defied Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship, further escalating their ongoing feud. Trump has previously criticized Pritzker's governance of Illinois and made personal attacks against him.
In his statement, Pritzker demanded answers from the Trump administration regarding several key questions, including staffing levels at the control tower during the crash, the dismissal of members from the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, and potential federal workforce cuts. He also questioned Elon Musk's potential involvement in the removal of the former FAA director and the timing of the director's replacement.
Pritzker also inquired about the authorization of the Blackhawk helicopter's flight path and whether helicopters would continue to be permitted to fly at the same altitude as commercial airplanes. He further demanded to know if the president, vice president, defense secretary, and transportation secretary would cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation and rectify any misinformation they may have disseminated.
Trump, during a White House briefing, cited headlines about the FAA's DEI hiring practices under the Biden administration, suggesting they compromised the agency's effectiveness. He expressed skepticism about individuals with intellectual or psychiatric disabilities serving as air traffic controllers. Trump emphasized the importance of highly qualified individuals in such critical roles and contrasted Democratic policies with his own executive orders that halted DEI programs and reinstated stringent standards for air traffic controllers.
When questioned about his reasoning, Trump attributed his conclusion to "common sense." Other potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders, including Pete Buttigieg, also criticized Trump's remarks, calling them "despicable" and accusing Trump of prioritizing falsehoods over leadership during a time of mourning.
