President Trump briefed reporters at the White House Thursday morning just hours after a commercial passenger plane collided with a military helicopter while landing in Washington, DC, likely killing all 67 people aboard the two aircraft.   PRESIDENT TRUMP: "I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for our nation … As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly — and we are in mourning." pic.twitter.com/j7pZSioexN— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 30, 2025 “A group within the FAA determined that the workforce was too white, then they had concerted efforts to get the administration to change that and to change it immediately,” Trump said. “This was in the Obama administration.” Immediately upon taking office, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum terminating a Biden administration FAA hiring policy that prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) over safety and efficiency. pic.twitter.com/VZOoJuOWNs— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 30, 2025 “Brilliant people have to be in those positions,” Trump said. “I changed the Obama standards from very mediocre at best to extraordinary,” Trump said at a press conference. “Only the highest aptitude. They have to be the highest intellect and psychological aptitude that were allowed to be qualified for air traffic controllers.” PRESIDENT TRUMP: "My administration will set the highest possible bar for aviation safety. We have to have the smartest people — it doesn't matter what they look like, how they speak, who they are. It matters — intellect. Talent." pic.twitter.com/6PwrnIjR8q— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 30, 2025 Watch Trump’s comments above.