A mistaken report from Fox News turned the aftermath of a New Orleans tragedy into a whirlwind of anti-immigrant outrage, fueled by prominent Republican voices. The mass killing on Wednesday left 15 dead and dozens injured, but before facts could catch up, the narrative had already taken a life of its own.
Jumping to Conclusions
Donald Trump wasted no time linking the attack to immigration, posting on Truth Social:
“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.”
His post, shared by Ohio Senator J.D. Vance on X, came right after Fox News incorrectly claimed the suspect’s truck had crossed the border from Mexico two days earlier. Adding fuel to the fire, Trump expressed sympathy for the victims while tying the tragedy to border policies under President Biden.
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene jumped in too, writing:
“New Orleans terrorist attacker is said to have come across the border in Eagle Pass TWO DAYS AGO!!! Shut the border down!!!”
But by noon, Fox News had retracted its claim, confirming the truck in question had entered the U.S. on November 16—weeks before the attack—and had zero connection to the southern border. Even the right-wing outlet Newsmax debunked the initial story.
The Real Story
The FBI later revealed the attacker was 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a Texas native and U.S. Army veteran who allegedly rented the vehicle through a peer-to-peer app. Despite these clarifications, the misinformation had already gone viral.
Key Republican voices doubled down on border rhetoric even after the correction. Greene suggested in another post:
“What did we expect with wide-open borders and millions of gotaways?”
Meanwhile, Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt wrote:
“The devastating terror attack in New Orleans has left many Americans asking: Has the enemy already infiltrated our borders because of Joe Biden’s failure to secure our homeland?”
Misinformation Travels Fast
The border claims spread rapidly before anyone could set the record straight. Although Fox News issued a retraction and platforms like X added fact-check notes, several high-profile figures kept their inflammatory posts up.
This saga is a stark reminder of how quickly misinformation can overshadow the truth—and how real lives and communities bear the brunt of hasty conclusions.
Let’s Talk About What Matters
Amid all the noise, let’s not forget what’s truly important: supporting the victims, their families, and the city of New Orleans as they heal from this horrific tragedy.
The next time headlines start flying, let’s take a breath and wait for the facts to unfold. Jumping to conclusions helps no one.
