Faced with the first big test of his new administration, Donald Trump wanted to show he was in control. Not just as America's consoler-in-chief, but as its chief prosecutor and air accident investigator-in-chief too.

Trump started his White House briefing on a midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter in Washington with a traditional presidential tone and a moment of silence in what he called an "hour of anguish for a nation."

But he quickly pivoted to blame -- and culture war politics.

He blamed the helicopter pilots for the crash that killed 67 people. He blamed night-vision goggles. He talked about landing tracks and altitudes.

"We have some very strong opinions," Trump announced.

Above all, the 78-year-old Republican blamed the crash on diversity hires, in an astonishing attack on his Democratic predecessors, Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

"Because I have common sense, OK? " Trump replied when asked how he had reached the conclusion that programs to counter racism and........

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