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

"Shameful", reads the Daily Mirror's headline as it covers Donald Trump's blame for the Washington air collision on diversity hires. The paper calls it a "new low" for what is says is the deadliest air tragedy in the US since 2001. The paper quotes the former US transport secretary as saying: "Trump should be leading, not lying".

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.