Inaccurate Report Snares Trump and Stirs Debate

Misinformation can spread faster than facts, as seen in the aftermath of a recent terror attack in New Orleans. An early, incorrect Fox News report suggested the suspect's truck had crossed the US border just days before the incident. This mistaken detail quickly carved a path of confusion, reaching all the way to President Trump. The story, attributed to unnamed sources, aired during Fox's 10 a. m. hour on Wednesday. It claimed the vehicle was in Eagle Pass, Texas, two days ago. This led some viewers to believe a foreigner could be behind the deadly rampage. However, the suspect was later identified as a US citizen and Army veteran. By the time this information emerged, Fox had already aired its faulty report. Trump, known to closely follow Fox News, issued a statement just eight minutes after the erroneous broadcast. He discussed "criminals coming in" from other countries without directly naming Fox. Trump's family members and allies also jumped into the debate. Donald Trump Jr. linked the attack to migrant terrorists, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called for border closure. Fox News tried to correct its mistake about an hour later. They clarified the truck was actually in Eagle Pass nearly two months earlier, driven by someone else through a rental app. The initial border detail was irrelevant to the attack. But the damage was done. Social media continued to reference Eagle Pass, and Fox kept streaming the incorrect clip online. Even after the retraction, some Republicans continued to harp on border issues. Trump's initial statement ironically used the attack to validate his stance on illegal immigration. He might have avoided the misstep if he had waited for the full facts. Fox News declined to comment on the misreporting. In a peculiar on-air moment, a Fox reporter recited Trump's statement but didn't mention that its initial report might have led Trump astray. Trump continued to assail open borders on his social media, even after the network's correction. Republican lawmakers on Fox also kept bringing up the southern border in their segments.