Donald Trump has blamed diversity, equity, and inclusion as a reason the U.S. was “going to hell” as the president continues to suggest the Federal Aviation Administration’s DEI principles could be behind the Washington DC plane crash that killed 67 people.
Sharing a slew of screenshots denigrating the FFA’s inclusive hiring processes in an early morning Truth Social tirade on Friday – which included a tweet from Elon Musk and a New York Post article – the president wrote: “This is just one reason why our Country WAS going to hell!!!”
Trump also said that the U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter which crashed into an American Airlines jet over the Potomac River on Wednesday was flying “too high” and “far above its 200 foot limit.” He added: “That’s not really too complicated to understand, is it???”
Officials have not yet unveiled the cause of the collision that is believed to have taken 67 lives but some people with knowledge of the matter admitted that the helicopter was flying 100 feet above its max altitude, according to The New York Times.
Addressing reporters on Thursday, Trump falsely claimed that the FAA encouraged the hiring of those with “complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability and dwarfism.”
What goods get more expensive for US consumers because of Trump’s tariffs on Mexico and Canada?
President Donald Trump said this week that tariffs on U.S. neighbors Canada and Mexico will arrive Saturday. The two nations are not only close geographically, but economically as well.
The business between the North American nations now exceeds China, totaling $1.8 trillion in 2023. That is far greater than the $643 billion in commerce that the U.S. did with China in that same year.
Just a few imported goods that could be hit first:
– US consumers could see the average price of a car rise by approximately $3,000 as auto parts cross back and forth across both borders during vehicle assembly.
– Drivers could see gas prices at the pump increase by 30-70 cents per gallon as Canada is by far the US’s largest foreign supplier of crude oil, and Mexico is second. Trump has yet to decide whether tariffs will be applied to oil.
– US shoppers will see grocery bills jump as 63% of imported vegetables and 47% of fruits and nuts come from Mexico. That figure rises to 90% for avocadoes. Given grocery stores run at tight margins, any price increase will be passed on to consumers.
With reporting by the Associated Press
Oliver O’Connell31 January 2025 17:30
As Trump’s DEI attacks continue, federal agencies told to implement transgender bathroom ban
Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, D.C.
Oliver O’Connell31 January 2025 17:20
Pardoned Jan. 6 rioter says he’s ‘so happy’ and has ‘no regrets’
“Oh man, what a great time to be alive. You know, I’m so happy I could be a part of it,” Barnett said during an appearance on the rightwing broadcaster Newsmax. “I’ve had a lot of anger issues to work through. I mean, I’ve been through hell. But I’m telling you what, I wouldn’t give it back for anything.”
Gustaf Kilander has the story.
Oliver O’Connell31 January 2025 17:00
Megyn Kelly’s threat against Little House on the Prairie reboot gets response from star of orginal series
Melissa Gilbert has reacted to Megyn Kelly’s recent comments about Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie reboot.
Gilbert, 60, who starred in the original nine-season adaptation of the book series as Laura Ingalls Wilder, later responded to The Megyn Kelly Show host in an Instagram post.
Inga Parkel reports on what she had to say.
Oliver O’Connell31 January 2025 16:40
Watch: Disabled pilot speaks out about Trump DEI attacks
Oliver O’Connell31 January 2025 16:24
Trump repeats 100% tariffs threat to Brics nations
President Donald Trump attempted to renew his threat against a bloc of nine nations in case they tried to undermine the US dollar.
He threatened economic retaliation if these “seemingly hostile countries” moved away from the dollar, Mr Trump said on Truth Social in a statement nearly identical to one he posted on 30 November.
The US president wrote on the social media platform: “The idea that the Brics countries are trying to move away from the dollar, while we stand by and watch, is over.”
Maroosha Muzaffar reports.
Oliver O’Connell31 January 2025 16:20
Mexico’s president calls on Google to identify US as ‘América Mexicana’
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has blasted Google for kowtowing to Donald Trump by changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico – and wants the United States to be identified as “América Mexicana.”
Sheinbaum attacked Google after Trump unilaterally decreed last week in an executive order that the Gulf of Mexico will henceforth be known as the “Gulf of America” – and Google quickly agreed to comply on its Google maps.
Mary Papenfuss has the story.
Oliver O’Connell31 January 2025 16:00
DC air crash: Fox News hosts insist Trump played ‘consoler-in-chief’
Oliver O’Connell31 January 2025 15:40
Exclusive: Murkowski rips Trump’s comments on disability and diversity
The Alaska Republican’s attack come after Trump blamed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices for the crash near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people. Specifically, the president criticized the Federal Aviation Administration’s recruitment program for people with intellectual disabilities.
Murkowski told The Independent that she felt awful for the families and everyone involved.
Here’s Eric Garcia’s report from Capitol Hill:
Oliver O’Connell31 January 2025 15:22
Watch: Trump asks reporter if he should swim to visit DC plane crash site
Trump jokingly asks reporter if he should swim to visit DC plane crash site
Donald Trump jokingly asked a reporter if he should swim to visit the Washington DC plane crash site. The president was asked if he had any plans to visit the site of the American Airlines and military helicopter collision, as rescue workers scoured the Potomac River. He replied: “I have a plan to visit, not the site. Because what, you tell me. What’s the site? Water. We’re going to go swimming?” Trump said he would be meeting with family members of some of the 67 victims of the deadly crash.
Oliver O’Connell31 January 2025 15:15