President-elect Donald Trump has blamed Democrats for the alleged “breakdown” of the country, which he linked to the fatal attack in New Orleans on Jan. 1.
“This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, useless and non-existent leadership,” he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “America is collapsing. A violent erosion of security, national security and democracy is spreading across our country. “
Newsweek reached out to Trump’s transition team for comment via email Thursday morning, outside of general business hours.
The New Year’s Eve attack in New Orleans is the deadliest bloodbath committed in the country in more than a year. At least 15 other people were killed and many more were injured when a 42-year-old Texas Army veteran plowed a pickup truck into other people crowding Bourbon Street.
It’s a grim way for the United States to start the year, after a Tesla Cybertruck exploded on a Las Vegas street on the same day, and risks increasing pressure on Trump to act temporarily to resolve the country’s challenges once once he takes office on January 20. He is expected to adopt policies aimed at reducing immigration to the United States, although the challenge has little to do with the attack in Louisiana.
The president-elect first recommended that the suspect, known to the FBI as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, was an immigrant, although the government later said he was a U. S. -born citizen. Despite this clarification, Trump’s statements suggest that he is still committed to cracking down on immigration, as he promised in his 2024 presidential campaign.
On the campaign trail, Trump promised to enact the largest deportation effort in American history and restrict the border flow of immigrants to the U.S.
The suspect in the New Orleans attack was killed in a shootout with police, authorities say. Despite initial anger over rumors that he was an immigrant, he revealed that he had resided in Texas his entire life, had served in the U. S. Army, and had served in the U. S. military. He had been discharged with honors for several years and had been honorably discharged.
While the attack is still being investigated, details revealed by officials are chilling. Jabbar, President Joe Biden said in a short address from Camp David on Wednesday, was “inspired by” the Islamic State. Investigators briefing the president on the attack said that the suspect shared several videos on social media the night before the attack where he indicated a “desire to kill,” Biden said, and pledged allegiance to ISIS.
While possible links to ISIS are still being investigated, the FBI said Jabbar had an ISIS flag on his truck, as well as several possible improvised explosive devices.
Donald Trump, former president and president-elect, on Truth Social: “Our Country is a disaster, a laughing stock all over the World! This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership.
“The Department of Justice, the FBI, Democratic and local prosecutors have not done their job. They are incompetent and corrupt, as they have spent all their waking hours illegally attacking their political opponent, ME, instead of focusing on protecting Americans from without and from within. Violent ESCUM that has infiltrated each and every facet of our government and our own country.
“Democrats would be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen in our country. The CIA will have to get involved, NOW, before it’s too late. The United States is collapsing. A violent erosion of security, national security and democracy is taking place. that is taking place across our nation. Only strength and tough leadership will prevent it on January 20.
President Joe Biden said in a written statement: “The FBI is taking the lead in the investigation and investigating this incident as an act of terrorism. I am grateful for the brave and quick reaction of local authorities to prevent even more deaths and injuries. . .
“I have directed my team to ensure every resource is available as federal, state, and local law enforcement work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind.”
Trump has described the attack in New Orleans as an “act of pure evil” in a post on Truth Social, saying his administration will “fully support” the City of New Orleans in its investigation and recovery from the attack.
Investigators are investigating whether anyone else was involved in the attack. Turo, the rental site through which Jabbar received the van he drove into the crowd in New Orleans, told CNN it was partnering with the law enforcement government to investigate the incident. The company said it “does not believe that any of the tenants involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks have criminal records that would have identified them as a security threat. “
Turo also hired the Cybertruck that exploded on the same day in Nevada.
Giulia Carbonaro is a Newsweek Reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus is on U.S. and European politics, global affairs and housing. She has covered the ups and downs of the U.S. housing market extensively, as well as given in-depth insights into the unfolding war in Ukraine. Giulia joined Newsweek in 2022 from CGTN Europe and had previously worked at the European Central Bank. She is a graduate of Nottingham Trent University. Languages: English, Italian, French. Email: [email protected].