Trump and Allies Blame Deadly New Orleans Attack on Biden’s Border Policies Despite Attacker Being a U.S. Citizen
President-elect Donald Trump and his allies in Congress have blamed the deadly New Orleans truck attack on President Joe Biden’s border policies even though the attacker was a U.S. citizen.
Trump’s Claims
“When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social as information was still trickling out about the ramming attack on Wednesday morning.
“The crime rate in our country is at a level that nobody has ever seen before,” he wrote. “Our hearts are with all of the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department.”
FBI Investigation and Suspect Identification
Officials later identified the attacker as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, of Texas, a U.S. citizen and an Army veteran.
FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia said the man who drove into a crowd of people in New Orleans posted videos online hours before the shooting that detailed a plan to commit another attack on his family.
Trump Jr. and GOP Allies Echo Fox News Report
Donald Trump Jr., the president-elect’s eldest son, posted a news article about the erroneous report, saying, “Biden’s parting gift to America — migrant terrorists.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., posted shortly after the initial segment: “New Orleans terrorist attacker is said to have come across the border in Eagle Pass TWO DAYS AGO!!! Shut the border down!!!”
Fox News Clarifies Suspect’s Identity
Later Wednesday, Fox News quoted Trump’s Truth Social post and then noted, “To be clear, the suspect was born in the United States.”
Consequences and Aftermath
The FBI is investigating the New Year’s Day violence as a terrorist attack.
Despite Fox’s clarifications, Trump doubled down on his message Thursday in posts on Truth Social, saying that the Biden administration’s handling of the nation’s borders has led to “a violent erosion of Safety, National Security, and Democracy.”
Other Republicans didn’t directly refer to Fox’s original report, but still seemed to blame the situation at the border for the attack and used the opportunity to push the larger GOP platform of a vulnerable border harming national security.
Conclusion
Despite the clarification from Fox News that the attacker was a U.S. citizen, Trump and his allies in Congress continued to blame the Biden administration’s border policies for the deadly attack in New Orleans. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing debate around immigration and border security in the United States.
FAQs
Q: Was the attacker a U.S. citizen?
A: Yes, the attacker was a U.S. citizen named Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who was born in Texas.
Q: What was the motive behind the attack?
A: According to FBI officials, the motive behind the attack was to cause harm to people and to potentially commit another attack on his family.
Q: Who has been blaming the Biden administration’s border policies for the attack?
A: President-elect Donald Trump and his allies in Congress, including his son Donald Trump Jr., Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., and Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz.
Q: What has been the reaction from the Biden administration?
A: President Joe Biden issued a statement expressing condolences to the victims and their families and reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting the people of New Orleans during this difficult time.
Q: How does the Trump administration’s view on immigration policies differ from the Biden administration’s view?
A: The Trump administration’s immigration policies, including the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and restrictions on asylum seekers, were based on the notion that a more secure border is necessary to protect national security. The Biden administration has taken a different approach, prioritizing the rights of asylum seekers and migrants while also improving border security.
