In a shocking turn of events, a New Year's Eve celebration in New Orleans was marred by a devastating tragedy that claimed at least 10 lives and left 30 others injured.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, has sparked widespread criticism of President Joe Biden's response, which many have deemed 'tone deaf' and insensitive.
According to the Daily Mail, the President's first social media post of 2025 was a simple 'Happy New Year, folks' message, shared at 10am ET, several hours after the horrific incident. The alleged attacker reportedly drove into a crowd on Bourbon Street around 3am local time. The timing of the President's post, and its lack of acknowledgment of the tragedy, sparked immediate backlash from social media users.
One user wrote, 'Joe Biden is a heartless pos. People lost their lives in a terror attack, and he just tweeted 'Happy New Year, Folks.' Jan 20th can't come fast enough.' Another expressed disbelief at the President's apparent disregard for the incident, stating, 'This is President Joe Bidens first post of the day. No mention of New Orleans or the victims. [Shaking my head].'
The President did not directly address the deadly incident before making his celebratory New Year's post. However, over an hour after his New Year's post, Biden issued a formal statement condemning the 'act of terrorism' and expressing condolences to the victims' families. As he boarded a plane to Camp David, he told reporters that his initial reaction was one of 'anger and frustration.' He declined to comment on speculation that the suspect might be an illegal migrant, a theory suggested by President-elect Donald Trump.
Earlier, the White House had issued a statement saying that Biden had spoken with New Orleans' Democratic mayor, LaToya Cantrell, offering 'full federal support.' The statement read, 'President Biden called New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell this morning to offer full federal support following the horrific news that a driver killed and injured dozens of individuals in New Orleans overnight.'
The White House confirmed that Biden had been briefed on all the 'latest developments' and would continue to receive updates throughout the day. The FBI is leading the investigation into the 'horrific' tragedy, working closely with local and state officials.
In his formal statement, Biden detailed the 'horrific incident' that occurred in New Orleans overnight. He thanked the 'brave and swift response of local law enforcement in preventing even greater death and injury.' He assured that his team would ensure 'every resource is available as federal, state, and local law enforcement work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind.'
Attorney General Merrick Garland also issued a statement, expressing his sorrow for those affected by the tragedy. He confirmed that the FBI continues to investigate with assistance from the ATF and DOJ's National Security Division, along with the local U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Meanwhile, President Biden is heading from Wilmington, Delaware, where he spent New Year's Eve, to Camp David. This could be one of his final trips there with just 19 days left of his presidency. Biden, 82, had just returned from a five-day vacation in St. Croix before returning to the United States to serve out the remainder of his term.
The New Year's morning took a somber turn for the country after a driver rammed into a large crowd before getting out of the vehicle and firing a weapon. Mayor Cantrell declared it a terrorist attack. The White House says that the FBI is on scene in New Orleans, Louisiana to support local law enforcement and that Biden will be briefed throughout the day on developments from the ground.
Witnesses detail a suspect ''wearing full body armor' and 'armed with an assault rifle.' Police returned fire after the individual opened fire on the crowd. Videos circulated on social media from the scene showing multiple casualties on the ground as shots rang out in the background and people were seen fleeing the area.
The vehicle plowed into the crowd at the intersection of Bourbon Street and Canal Street around 3:15 a.m. local time on Wednesday morning, city officials confirmed. The city of New Orleans divulged that wounded were transported to five different area hospitals in the wake of the 'mass casualty event.' No information about the suspect has been released so far and it is unclear if any arrests have been made or if police fire made contact with the individual. However, a federal law enforcement official told NBC News that the suspect is believed to be dead.
As the nation grapples with this horrific tragedy, questions remain about the suspect's identity and motives. Amidst the grief and shock, the need for a swift and thorough investigation is paramount. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of terrorism and the importance of vigilance and preparedness in ensuring the safety of our communities.
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