A MAGA state lawmaker fearmongering backfired on Wednesday after a bus he claimed was filled with “illegal invaders” was actually transporting a basketball team.
On Wednesday, Michigan State Rep. Matt Maddock (R) posted a photo of buses and a plane, somehow concluding that the plane was filled with migrants who were then placed on the buses and were being transported to Detroit.
“Happening right now. Three busses just loaded up with illegal invaders at Detroit Metro,” Maddock said. “Anyone have any idea where they’re headed with their police escort?”
But, the “illegal invaders” Maddock was referring to were actually the Gonzaga men’s basketball team arriving in Detroit for their Sweet 16 game.
“Just to be clear, this was the Gonzaga basketball team,” WXYZ Detroit reporter Maxwell White said. “Photos show Gonzaga getting on an Allegiant plane to Detroit for the Sweet 16, and Flight Radar shows a plane from GEG to DTW landed at 7:25 p.m., around the time this photo was posted. This is a wild tweet.”
Despite the backlash, Maddock doubled down in a follow-up tweet.
“We know this is happening,” he wrote. “100,000’s of illegals are pouring into our country. We know it’s happening in Michigan. Our own governor is offering money to take them in! Since we can’t trust the #FakeNews to investigate, citizens will. The process of investigating these issues takes time.”
