President Donald Trump began his White House briefing Thursday with a moment of silence and a prayer for victims of Wednesday's crash at Reagan National Airport. But his remarks quickly became a diatribe against diversity hiring and his allegation — so far without evidence — that lowered standards were to blame for the crash.

The president is promising a return to meritocracy—while staffing his government with underqualified loyalists.

But within minutes, the “presidential” mirage dissolved. Trump unleashed an unusually appallingly rant, blaming the crash on Barack Obama, Joe Biden, former Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, DEI and people with disabilities.

Disability and civil rights advocates criticized Trump for implying the plane crash could be connected to government diversity programs.

President Donald Trump is questioning the actions of the army helicopter pilot and air traffic controller in Wednesday’s deadly midair collision in Washington

President Donald Trump’s critics on social media pointed to some of Trump’s policies as contributors to a midair crash between a commercial jet from Wichita, Kansas, and a military Blackhawk helicopter.

Trump on Thursday criticized hiring practices of his predecessor that promoted diversity, equity and inclusion.

Trump variously pointed the finger at the helicopter’s pilot, air traffic control, Joe Biden, and Pete Buttigieg, whom he labeled a “disaster.”