A transgender National Guard member is speaking out after social media users falsely identified her as the pilot of the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a passenger jet in Washington.
Jo Ellis, a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot with the Virginia Army National Guard, addressed the rumors on Facebook. She denounced the false accusations, which echoed Donald Trump’s claims linking the crash to diversity hiring policies.
Ellis called the misinformation insulting to the victims and their families. “They deserve better than this BS from the bots and trolls of the internet,” she wrote.
False Claims Spread Quickly Despite Retractions
Ellis shared screenshots of X posts linking her gender identity to the tragic crash. One user suggested they “wouldn’t be surprised” if the pilot was trans.
Another post claimed Ellis made anti-Trump statements, spreading the conspiracy theory further. The original account deleted the post and issued an apology, but the damage was done.
A blue-check X account with 13,600 followers also shared the false claim, racking up 195,000 views and 1,000 shares before being removed. Despite the retractions, Ellis remained the No. 3 trending topic on X, with 19,400 posts.
Far-right accounts continued to spread misinformation, even after Ellis posted a follow-up video titled “proof of life” to set the record straight.
Trump and Conservatives Blame DEI for Disasters
Trump used the crash to attack DEI hiring policies, blaming the Obama administration for shifting FAA hiring policies. His memo accused the Biden administration of prioritizing diversity over merit-based hiring.
Trump failed to provide evidence when pressed during a press conference, replying only: “Because common sense and unfortunately a lot of people don’t.”
DEI attacks have become a staple of Trump’s MAGA platform. After California wildfires, Elon Musk blamed diversity initiatives, writing “DEI means people DIE”.
Conservatives also blamed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, the first openly gay woman in the role, for the wildfires that killed 28 people.
Other disasters have been linked to DEI as well. Rep. Dan Meuser claimed New Orleans’ New Year’s Day tragedy resulted from diversity hiring priorities. Phil Lyman blamed the Baltimore bridge collapse on governors prioritizing diversity over safety.
