President-elect Donald Trump has pledged his administration’s full support to the city of New Orleans following a devastating attack in which a driver deliberately plowed into a crowd of New Year’s revelers, killing at least 10 and injuring dozens more. The attack, which also involved gunfire, took place in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
In a statement, Trump referred to the incident as an example of the violent crime epidemic facing the nation, reiterating a long-held view that criminals coming across the U.S.-Mexico border are often far more dangerous than those within the country. He wrote, “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.” He added, “Our hearts are with all of the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department. The Trump Administration will fully support the City of New Orleans as they investigate and recover from this act of pure evil!”
The attack is being investigated by federal officials as a potential terrorist act. It was revealed that the truck used in the assault, a White Ford Lightning, crossed the U.S.-Mexico border into Eagle Pass, Texas, in November. The vehicle, which bears a Texas license plate, was rented through the car-sharing app Turo. The FBI is leading the investigation into the incident.
In response to the attack, President Joe Biden expressed his condolences, stating, “I have been continually briefed since early this morning regarding the horrific incident that occurred in New Orleans overnight. The FBI is taking the lead in the investigation and is investigating this incident as an act of terrorism.” Biden emphasized that there is no justification for such violence and vowed that the U.S. would not tolerate any attacks on its communities.
At least 10 people were killed and 30 others were injured, including two police officers who were caught in a gunfight with the assailant after he exited the truck. The driver, whose identity remains unknown, was killed in the exchange. Authorities also discovered an improvised explosive device in the area, further raising the severity of the situation.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick described the attack as a deliberate act of violence, stating, “This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could. He was hellbent on creating the carnage that he did.” The city of New Orleans continues to mourn the loss of life and process the devastating aftermath of this horrific attack.
