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Trump‘s attack on DEI is a dangerous Echo of history

Writer's picture: David BeersDavid Beers

Updated: 1 day ago



Trump's Attack on DEI and the Dangerous Echoes of History 


Recently, former President Donald Trump and his supporters have attempted to blame the recent helicopter and plane crash on diversity and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies. In doing so, Trump specifically enumerated disabilities as part of what he sees as the problem, implying that hiring people with disabilities weakens institutions like the FAA. He also complained that there are "too many white men" being passed over for FAA air traffic control jobs. This rhetoric is not just offensive—it is dangerous. It echoes a long and horrifying history of exclusion, dehumanization, and, ultimately, mass persecution. 


The First to be Targeted: People with Disabilities 

Many people forget that before the full-scale Holocaust, the first victims of Nazi extermination programs were not Jewish, Romani, or political dissidents. Nazi extermination programs first targeted disabled people. 


The Nazi regime began its horrors with Aktion T4, a program designed to eliminate people with disabilities—those they deemed "life unworthy of life." These individuals were forcibly sterilized, institutionalized, and ultimately murdered. The so-called "euthanasia" program began with the mass killing of disabled children. It expanded to adults, serving as the testing ground for the gas chambers that would later be used in concentration camps. They based this atrocity on a simple, chilling logic: only the "fittest" deserved a place in society, making anyone perceived as weak or different a burden. 


Trump's attack on DEI, particularly his targeting of disabled individuals, follows this same dangerous pattern of thinking—suggesting that some people do not belong, that their inclusion is a liability and that society is better off without them. 


Diversity Makes Us Stronger, Not Weaker 

Like many institutions, the FAA has embraced diversity not to "lower standards" but to strengthen its workforce. DEI's goal is not quotas or reducing competence—it is expanding opportunities so that the best and most talented people from all backgrounds can access jobs. Studies consistently show that diverse teams perform better in business, science, or government. 


Disabled individuals, for example, bring unique problem-solving abilities, resilience, and critical thinking skills. Many air traffic controllers must work with extreme focus and mental agility—skills that individuals with disabilities often cultivate out of necessity. The idea that hiring someone with a disability is inherently a risk is not just wrong—it is dehumanizing.

 

Trump's Rhetoric is a Dog Whistle for Exclusion 

Trump's latest statements are part of a broader pattern. He has repeatedly scapegoated marginalized groups to rally his base, whether it's immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, or now, disabled individuals. This tactic follows a well-worn historical strategy: blame "outsiders" for society's problems, create resentment, and use that resentment to justify stripping them of rights and opportunities. 


His specific attack on disabled people should alarm everyone. If history has taught us anything, it's that the first step toward oppression is dehumanization. It starts with questioning whether certain people belong in a job. Then, it moves to whether they belong in public life. From there, it is a short road to removing their rights altogether. 


The True Danger Lies in Accepting This Narrative 

What makes Trump's rhetoric so dangerous is that many people will believe it without question. They will hear his claims that diversity is "making America weaker" and accept it as fact. This is how rights are lost—not all at once, but through gradual acceptance of exclusionary logic. 


We must reject this narrative at every turn. DEI is not about lowering standards—it is about ensuring that everyone qualified has an opportunity to contribute. Inclusion is a sign of strength, not weakness. And when leaders begin singling out groups—whether by race, gender, disability, or any other characteristic—as inherently unworthy, history tells us where that road leads. 

 

Final Thoughts 

Trump's attack on DEI and disabled individuals is not just an offhand comment—it is a red flag. It signals a broader push toward exclusion, discrimination, and, ultimately, the erosion of civil rights. We have seen this pattern before in history, and we know how it ends. 

We must stand up now, speak out loudly, and refuse to let this dangerous ideology retake hold. 


B. David Beers wrote this essay with assistance from ChatGPT to help structure and refine my thoughts. 



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