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A2 U.S. NEWS
Friday 31 January 2025
Trump blames diversity hiring as probe into deadly midair collision

begins

By ZEKE MILLER and CHRIS ing,” he added.
MEGERIAN The plane crash was the first
Associated Press major disaster of Trump’s
WASHINGTON (AP) — As new term, and his response
the nation reeled from the evoked his frequent and
deadliest American avia- controversial briefings on
tion disaster in more than the COVID-19 pandemic.
two decades, President His handling of the pan-
Donald Trump on Thursday demic helped sour voters
blamed diversity initiatives on him as he failed to win
for undermining air safety reelection in 2020.After
and questioned the actions telling the families of the
of a U.S. Army helicopter dead that “our hearts are
pilot involved in the midair shattered alongside yours”
collision with a commercial and leading a moment of
airliner. silence, Trump proceeded
Sixty-seven people are be- to speculate about what
lieved to have died in the had occurred. “We do not
Wednesday evening crash, know what led to this crash
which occurred while a but we have some very
flight from Wichita, Kansas, strong opinions,” he said.
was landing at Washington Trump wondered if the he-
Reagan National Airport. From left, Vice President JD Vance, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Secretary of Defense licopter pilot was wearing
As Trump spoke, the feder- Pete Hegseth, look on as President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room nightvision goggles, de-
at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington.
al investigation was just be- Associated Press clared that “you had a pilot
ginning and first responders problem” and that the heli-
were still working to recover have happened,” the Re- and “dwarfism.” naturally talented genius- copter was “going at an
bodies from the Potomac publican president said Trump did not share any es,” he said. “You can’t angle that was unbeliev-
River. from the White House brief- evidence that unquali- have regular people doing ably bad.” He questioned
Officials have not yet to for- ing room, just over three fied people were being their job.” why the Army pilot didn’t
mally establish the causes miles or five kilometers from put in critical positions like Trump complained specifi- change course, saying that
of the collision, and Trump the scene of the disaster. air traffic control, and he cally about Pete Buttigieg, “you can stop a helicopter
himself acknowledged Trump blamed former Presi- acknowledged that there who was Biden’s transpor- very quickly.”
that it was too soon to dent Joe Biden’s adminis- was as yet no indication tation secretary and was He also mused about the
draw conclusions as he en- tration for encouraging the that air traffic controllers a contender to challenge air traffic controllers, say-
couraged the country to Federal Aviation Admin- at Reagan National Airport Trump for the White House ing of the two aircraft, “for
pray for the victims. But he istration to recruit workers made any mistakes. in 2020, calling him “a di- whatever reason they were
quickly moved to engage “who suffer severe intellec- Asked why he was blaming saster.” at the same elevation,”
in speculation and politi- tual disabilities, psychiatric diversity initiatives, Trump “He’s run it right into the adding “they should have
cal attacks, at a moment problems and other mental said, “because I have ground with his diversity,” been at a different height.”
when Americans tradition- and physical conditions un- common sense, and un- Trump said, adding profan- Even as Trump rushed to
ally look to the presidency der a diversity and inclusion fortunately a lot of people ity to his description of Butti- publicly ponder reasons
for comfort, assurance and hiring initiative.” He added don’t.” gieg.Buttigieg responded in for the crash, the National
facts. that the program allowed Trump said air traffic con- a post on X, calling Trump’s Transportation Safety Board
“Some really bad things for the hiring of people with trollers needed to be bril- comments “despicable.” was more circumspect as
happened and some things hearing and vision issues as liant to ensure safety. “As families grieve, Trump it begins examining what
happened that shouldn’t well as paralysis, epilepsy “They have to be talented, should be leading, not ly- happened.q

Man charged with stabbing Vegas showgirls and tourists pleads

guilty but mentally ill to murder

Associated Press court hearing in Las Vegas that the plea
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A man accused in a agreement “recognizes what everybody
series of stabbings on the Las Vegas Strip in the system knew that this was the result
in 2022 that left two people dead and six of mental illness that caused paranoia.”
injured has pleaded guilty but mentally ill Authorities say the unprovoked attack
to murder and terrorism charges. in October 2022 began when Barrios
The victims included performers dressed as stabbed a group of performers dressed
showgirls and tourists. as showgirls near the Wynn Las Vegas ho-
Yoni Barrios, 34, entered his pleas Thursday tel and casino, killing one of them. Barrios
as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid then ran down a sidewalk, attacking more
the death penalty, the Las Vegas Review- people, according to police.
Journal reported. Just before the stabbings, police say Bar-
Barrios also pleaded guilty but mentally ill rios had asked to take a photo with the
to attempted murder and battery charg- performers. He was wearing a chef’s long-
Police work at the scene where multiple people were stabbed es. He is expected to be sentenced to life sleeved white jacket, said he was a chef,
in front of a Strip casino in Las Vegas, Oct. 6, 2022. in prison without the possibility of parole. and removed a knife from a suitcase, ac-
Associated Press
Scott Coffee, his attorney, said after the cording to police.q