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| - A claim circulating online in late January 2025 alleged Elon Musk, the tech entrepreneur heading up the new U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, once posted on X that it would take an airplane crash for the government to end a "crazy" hiring policy involving diversity, equity and inclusion.
Users on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok and X shared the claim about the purported Musk post, which read, "It will take an airplane crashing and killing hundreds of people for them to change this crazy policy of DIE." The text featured a misspelling of DEI.
The rumor Musk created the post was true. He posted (archived) the message on Jan. 9, 2024, in response to a user who, according to NBC News, speculated United Airlines pilots who went to historically Black colleges and universities would score lower than the average of IQ of Air Force pilots. That user later deleted their post.
The post resurfaced following a deadly midair collision between an American Airlines plane and an Army helicopter in Washington on Jan. 29, 2025. The incident claimed the lives of all 67 people aboard both aircraft. Within hours, President Donald Trump and other members of his administration baselessly blamed diversity hiring and DEI as a potential factor leading to the collision. Trump also acknowledged investigators had only just begun their work to determine the cause of the crash.
Days earlier, on Jan. 20 — the first day of Trump's second term in office — he signed an executive order seeking to end federal programs, offices, positions, plans, actions, initiatives, grants and contracts associated with DEI, DEIA ("A" for accessibility), environmental justice and equity.
As of this writing, The Associated Press reported, "Investigators are examining the actions of the military pilot as well as air traffic control, after the helicopter apparently flew into the jet's path." The reporting also said investigators declined to speculate on the cause of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board website published, "In general, the NTSB tries to complete an investigation within 12 to 24 months, but these and other factors can greatly affect that timing."
We contacted two of Musk's companies to request comment regarding the post and will update this article if we receive a response.
Trump Blamed DEI at News Conference
On Jan. 30, Trump began a White House news conference by calling for a moment of silence and speaking about the tragedy. During his remarks, he said, "We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas, and I think we'll probably state those opinions now." He then cast blame for the incident on a Federal Aviation Administration diversity and hiring initiative.
As Snopes previously reported, while the FAA hiring policy Trump citied genuinely existed, the implication the policy was new, or that it stemmed from efforts beginning under President Joe Biden's administration, was demonstrably false. The FAA's website hosted a page featuring the policy since at least February 2013. The page existed online during the entirety of Trump's first term in office.
Other members of the Trump administration also briefly spoke during the news conference. Sean Duffy, the new transportation secretary, echoed Trump's remarks about hiring "the best and the brightest." Pete Hegseth, the new defense secretary, added, "The era of DEI is gone at the Defense Department and we need the best and brightest, whether it's in our air traffic control or whether it's in our generals or whether it's throughout government." Vice President JD Vance also mentioned staffing "the best people" and spoke of doing away with race-based hiring initiatives.
ABC News chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce asked the first question of the news conference: "Mr. President, on DEI and the claims that you've made, are you saying this crash was somehow caused and the result of diversity hiring? And what evidence have you seen to support these claims?"
Trump responded, "It just could have been," then continued speaking about high standards for safety positions.
Moments later, NBC News chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander directly quoted reporting from Snopes, telling Trump his mention of the FAA's diversity and hiring initiative referenced a policy existing on the agency's website since 2013, and during his first term in office. Trump denied the claim. Alexander asserted, "Respectfully, it was on the website." Trump replied, "Quiet. Quiet," moving on to a different reporter.
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