(WWJ) A Republican lawmaker in Michigan is being lambasted online over a bogus claim he made on social media.
State Rep. Matthew Maddock, R-Milford, Wednesday morning posted photos on X (formally twitter) showing buses on the tarmac at Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (DTW) with the caption: "Happening right now. Three busses (sic) just loaded up with illegal invaders at Detroit Metro. Anyone have any idea where they’re headed with their police escort?"
While many responding to Maddock suggested these were college basketball teams headed to Detroit for this weekend's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament 'Sweet 16', Maddock did not delete his post. Instead he appeared to double down, blaming Michigan's governor for allowing "100,000’s of illegals" into our state, and the 'Fake News" for failing to investigate.
A repost of Maddock's post was then posted again by Pete Hoekstra , the chair of the Michigan GOP.
However, in a statement issued a short time later, airport officials confirmed what those in the comments had proposed, saying: "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."
Among those responding to Maddock's fictitious tweet was State Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), who called Maddock's claims rude, and "frankly dangerous."
While some on social media are laughing at Maddock's mistake, Sam Inglot, executive director of Progress Michigan, doesn't find it amusing.
"A lot of people are making fun of Maddock for this, but it’s important to acknowledge the dangerous rhetoric he used while spreading his misinformation,” said Inglot, in a media release. “Maddock and so many Republicans across the country are carelessly using militaristic language to describe an already-marginalized group of people. This type of dehumanization inevitably leads to violence and we cannot let Republicans get away with using it to divide our communities and put people in danger.”
Detroit's Little Caesar's Arena will be hosting Sweet 16 games beginning Friday evening, when No. 5 seed Gonzaga faces off against No. 1 seed Purdue. Then No. 2 Tennessee will face No. 3 Creighton at LCA, later Friday night. The winners of those two games will play Sunday for the Midwest Regional Championship, and a trip to the Final Four.
Maddock did not immediately respond to requests for comment.