Lawmaker shoots airball labeling basketball players at Detroit airport as 'illegal invaders'
In Michigan, Republican state Rep. Matt Maddock wrongfully claimed on social media that he had photo evidence of “illegal invaders,” who were arriving at the Detroit Metro Airport this week.
As it turns out, the “evidence” was actually photos of college basketball teams flying in Wednesday and being transported to play in the NCAA tournament in Detroit, CNN reported.
Maddock posted photos on the social media platform X, which showed an Allegiant Air plane and three buses, the Detroit Free Press reported. In his post, Maddock tagged Michigan Republican Party Chair Pete Hoekstra.
“Happening right now. Three buses just loaded up with illegal invaders at Detroit Metro,” he posted on Twitter. “Anyone have any idea where they’re headed with their police escort?”
Happening right now. Three busses just loaded up with illegal invaders at Detroit Metro. Anyone have any idea where they’re headed with their police escort? @petehoekstra pic.twitter.com/3xFhIP1jf1
— Matt Maddock (@matthewmaddock) March 28, 2024
According to CNN, the only Allegiant Air flight to the airport on Wednesday was a charter flight carrying the Gonzaga University Bulldogs, who will play the Purdue University Boilermakers Friday night.
“The four men’s basketball teams competing in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 at Little Caesars Arena arrived at DTW Wednesday evening. The buses seen in a photograph circulating online were transporting the basketball teams and their respective staffs,” the Wayne County Airport Authority, which operates the Detroit Metro Airport, said in an email to the Free Press.
Little Caesars Arena is hosting tournament games Friday — first, the No. 5 seed Gonzaga faces top seed Purdue. Then, No. 2 Tennessee faces No. 3 Creighton, which is scheduled for 10:09 p.m. The winner of the two games will meet Sunday for a trip to the Final Four in Glendale, Arizona.
It’s not certain which team took the particular buses shown in Maddock’s photo, CNN said.
“Maddock made his false claim in a month during which false and misleading claims about airplane flights involving migrants have proliferated on the political right,” CNN reported.
The misidentification garnered a lot of reaction.
Illegal Invaders from Gonzagistan just landed in Detroit! Run for your lives! Blessed be Matt Maddock holding the front line and protecting us all! #MarchMadness #Gonzaga @ZagMBB pic.twitter.com/RBktGj1gDW
— Mario Pinedo (@mariopinedo) March 29, 2024
Megan Swift is a TribLive reporter covering trending news in Western Pennsylvania. A Murrysville native, she joined the Trib full time in 2023 after serving as editor-in-chief of The Daily Collegian at Penn State. She previously worked as a Jim Borden Scholarship intern at the Trib for three summers. She can be reached at mswift@triblive.com.
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