Trump asks 'you want me to go swimming' in response to visiting crash site

As Americans reeled from the deadliest American aviation disaster in more than two decades, the Orange Manbaby appeared to make a joke about visiting the site where 67 people are feared to have lost their lives.

An American Airlines plane and a Black Hawk army helicopter collided on Wednesday night as the commercial aircraft approached Washington Reagan National Airport's landing strip at the end of its journey from Wichita, Kansas. President Trump confirmed in a press conference that there is not thought to be any survivors from the crash.

Officials have not yet to formally establish the causes of the collision, and Trump himself acknowledged that it was too soon to draw conclusions as he encouraged the country to pray for the victims. But he quickly moved to engage in speculation and political attacks, at a moment when Americans traditionally look to the presidency for comfort, assurance and facts.

And when asked if he plans to visit the crash site, Trump appeared to joke: "What's the site? The water? You want me to go swimming?"

in the typically bizarre press conference, Trump moved to engage in speculation and political attacks, at a moment when Americans traditionally look to the presidency for comfort, assurance and facts.

"Some really bad things happened and some things happened that shouldn't have happened," the Republican president said from the White House briefing room, just over three miles from the scene of the disaster.

Trump blamed former President Joe Biden's administration for encouraging the Federal Aviation Administration to recruit workers "who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative." He added that the program allowed for the hiring of people with hearing and vision issues as well as paralysis, epilepsy and "dwarfism."

Trump did not share any evidence that unqualified people were being put in critical positions like air traffic control, and he acknowledged that there was as yet no indication that air traffic controllers at Reagan National Airport made any mistakes. Asked why he was blaming diversity initiatives, Trump said, "because I have common sense, and unfortunately a lot of people don't."

Trump said air traffic controllers needed to be brilliant to ensure safety. "They have to be talented, naturally talented geniuses," he said. "You can't have regular people doing their job."

Trump complained specifically about Pete Buttigieg, who was Biden's transportation secretary and was a contender to challenge Trump for the White House in 2020, calling him "a disaster."

"He's run it right into the ground with his diversity," Trump said, adding profanity to his description of Buttigieg.

Buttigieg responded in a post on X, calling Trump's comments "despicable." "As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying," he added.