In a briefing that recalled his most extreme first term remarks, President Trump said without any evidence that diversity initiatives caused the midair collision.

Authorities declined to say what may have caused the deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night while the investigation is underway, even as President Trump and his allies sought to politicize the incident by blaming diversity efforts.

There is no evidence that diversity efforts played a role in the crash, and his statements disregarded his own administration’s hiring policies.

President Donald Trump said the cause for the crash involving an American Airlines plane and military aircraft has yet to be determined Thursday during a White House press conference.

President Trump delivered a statement on the deadly plane crash near Washington, D.C., calling it a "dark and excruciating night in our nation's capital." The president said the federal government would be "working tirelessly" to figure out what happened as responders shift to a recovery operation.