Last week, tragedy struck when an American Airlines regional jet collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., resulting in the loss of 67 lives.

In the aftermath of such tragedies, it’s customary to await a thorough investigation before making categorical declarations. But because we live in a world where reality outpaces satire on the daily, President Trump – never one to adhere to “customs” or “facts” – decided to skip the whole “waiting for evidence” part. He promptly blamed the crash on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, suggesting that these initiatives compromised safety by prioritizing inclusivity over competence.

The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the incident, focusing on factors like air traffic control communications, flight paths, and potential mechanical failures. There is no truth in the suggestion that hiring policies for air traffic controllers prioritize diversity over ability. None.

Preliminary reports indicate that the helicopter may have been flying above its designated altitude, and that there might have been communication issues between the aircraft and air traffic control.

Yet, without a shred of evidence, the President pointed a finger at DEI policies. (Because he’s racist.)

Critics have rightly called out this baseless accusation, with Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasizing the importance of focusing on facts rather than unfounded claims.

But why let facts get in the way of an opportunity for political diversion? By targeting DEI, the administration continues its pattern of undermining diversity efforts across various sectors. If you recall just recently executive orders were signed to dismantle DEI initiatives in federal agencies, reflecting a broader agenda to roll back progress on inclusion.

This is more of the same. It’s using a national tragedy to prop up a political agenda. It’s beyond insulting to the victims and their families, but it’s also treating us – citizens – like we can’t see the forest for the trees.

It’s also, by the way, quite likely to reduce the future pool of qualified applicants for these positions, because I have to tell you: I wouldn’t want to apply for a government job right now unless I was a white man. And – fact check – there are brilliant, talented, capable people who exist outside of that particular subset.

So, let’s allow the professionals to do their jobs, uncover the facts, and work towards preventing future tragedies without creating endless distractions via political blame games that serve virtually nobody – save for Trump and his allies.