Spin Cycle: A Trade War To DEI For?

For those who don’t spend their Sunday mornings glued to the television — and their Sunday afternoons attempting to dig through a week’s worth of network and cable news media spin — The Daily Wire has compiled a short summary of what you may have missed.

With the futures of several of President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees still hanging in the balance, legacy media outlets jumped on every possible narrative that could be highlighted or spun to cast doubt on his administration as it nears the end of its second week.

Trump’s comments about the horrific plane crash at Reagan National Airport — namely his implication that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives played a role in putting fewer or under-qualified individuals into positions that may have put lives at risk — were a popular topic of conversation across the Sunday morning talk shows. Hosts either brought in Democrats who would criticize Trump’s assessment of the situation, or brought in Trump allies and then presented the topic in an adversarial manner.

On ABC News’ “This Week,” Donna Brazile claimed that diversity included “every American” and argued that “it was just a low moment, again, for President Trump.” She criticized the president for not waiting for the results of an official investigation, and attacked him for suggesting that former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and their policies had anything to do with the crash.

Pres. Trump sparked criticism for claiming, without citing evidence, that diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives were partly to blame for the D.C. plane crash.

Former DNC chair @DonnaBrazile and former RNC chair @Reince Priebus weigh in. https://t.co/H3mth1HBYB pic.twitter.com/riThRqTSNT

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 2, 2025

On CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” host Margaret Brennan brought in “CBS Evening News” anchor John Dickerson to talk about “the tone” of Trump’s comments on the issue.

Unsurprisingly, Dickerson’s assessment was that the scope of the tragedy would ensure that Trump’s words would stick with the American people — and that the message they got would be that he did not believe minorities were capable of handling certain positions.

In the wake of the deadly plane-helicopter collision near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people, @CBSEveningNews co-anchor @jdickerson shares some thoughts on the tone of responses out of the Oval Office following moments of tragedy. pic.twitter.com/TRhoksvxUY

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) February 2, 2025

Brennan then brought in Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) to address Trump’s comments, highlighting the Trump administration’s policy regarding equal opportunity particularly for those who have “targeted disabilities.”

Mast, who lost his legs when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (I.E.D.) while serving in Afghanistan, made it clear that he was not going to bite: “There are things that I am suited to do, no doubt, but flying an aircraft, to stick with the subject at hand, would not be one of them … Systemically, is there a big hiring problem across all federal agencies, to include the FAA, where they made the priority diversity and inclusion instead of excellence and performance? Yes, that’s the case.”

Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), who lost two limbs serving in Afghanistan, says he takes "no offense" to President Trump's remarks linking the deadly aircraft collision to DEI initiatives.

“There are things that I am suited to do, no doubt, but flying an aircraft, to stick with the… pic.twitter.com/8eEEQb7O7b

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) February 2, 2025

On “State of the Union,” CNN anchor Jake Tapper tried to corner Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy — who had only been confirmed to his post one day prior to the crash — saying, “I just don’t know of any evidence… that DEI had anything to do with the tragedy itself.”

Duffy pushed back, noting that DEI initiatives had impacted the application process until the Trump administration had put an end to them.

“I just don't know of any evidence… that DEI had anything to do with the tragedy itself.”@jaketapper challenges Transportation @SecDuffy to back up Trump’s claims that diversity hiring initiatives played a role in the midair collision in DC that claimed the lives of 67 people. pic.twitter.com/JQkUK3vG8D

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) February 2, 2025

Duffy also commented on Trump’s federal hiring freeze, saying that those employees who held “critical safety positions” as air traffic controllers would be exempt: “We’re going to keep all our safety positions in place.”

"We're going to keep all our safety positions in place."@SecDuffy tells @jaketapper that air traffic controllers and "critical safety positions" are exempt from Trump’s hiring freeze and buyout offer for federal employees. pic.twitter.com/KQAEVmypNS

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) February 2, 2025

Tapper also brought in Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), who appeared only too happy to take a shot at the man who ended his 2016 run for the vice presidency. “The president weighing in while bodies were still being recovered, blaming this on DEI, and when pressed he has no evidence to suggest it, was absolutely stomach turning.”

Kaine went on to accuse Trump of race-baiting, and added, “I think the president didn’t want to be asked tough questions like, ‘Why did you let Elon Musk force the FAA administration to resign?’ When this crash happened, there was no FAA administrator because he had clashed with Elon Musk.”

"Absolutely stomach-turning." @SenTimKaine to @jaketapper after Trump blamed DEI for the DC air collision. pic.twitter.com/6AIGoU4Vsr

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) February 2, 2025

In addition to Trump’s comments on DEI, media outlets also targeted his actions with regard to implementing tariffs against several nations — with some going so far as to accuse him of intentionally starting a trade war that would necessarily escalate.

“If you’re going to pick a fight in a bar… scope the exits,” Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler (D-WA) said on “State of the Union.”

Former Rep. @HerreraBeutler on Trump's new tariffs: "If you're going to pick a fight in a bar… scope the exits."@YassaminAnsari, @BradOnMessage and @Bakari_Sellers join CNN's @JakeTapper to break down the looming trade war. pic.twitter.com/PpCMnJxMNc

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) February 2, 2025

On NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” newly-confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem assured anchor Kristen Welker that the tariffs would primarily impact Canada, Mexico, and China.

DHS Sec. Kristi Noem says Canada, Mexico and China ‘will feel pain’ of tariffs: Full interview https://t.co/MfYqncZKiZ

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) February 2, 2025

The official X account for CBS’ “Face the Nation” posted the following caption, effectively declaring Trump guilty of setting off an economic chain reaction.

“President Trump launched a trade war over the weekend, enacting sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, with all three countries already vowing to retaliate with countermeasures. ‘We should anticipate there could be a tit-for-tat here, because the orders that the president signed Saturday night give him the authority to keep raising tariffs on the three countries if they respond in kind, and that could contribute to an uptick in inflation,’ @edokeefe reports.”

President Trump launched a trade war over the weekend, enacting sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, with all three countries already vowing to retaliate with countermeasures.

"We should anticipate there could be a tit-for-tat here, because the orders that the president… pic.twitter.com/BKhzNLTkPH

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) February 2, 2025

On ABC’s “This Week,” host George Stephanopoulos spoke with Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Kristen Hillman, who voiced her disappointment in the newly-enacted tariffs.

“This is not something that Canada wants to do,” she said of the tariffs. “We are actually interested in continuing to be your best customer.”

Amid the ongoing tariff battle, Canadian Amb. Kirsten Hillman tells American consumers: "This is not something that Canada wants to do … We are actually interested in being and continuing to be your best customer." https://t.co/tg0rfjRdnV pic.twitter.com/UqWxhlaWvg

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 2, 2025