President Joe Biden is being criticized for his ‘tone deaf’ response after an overnight tragedy left at least 10 dead and 30 others injured at a New Orleans New Year’s Eve celebration.
Biden’s first post on X in 2025 was a simple ‘Happy New Year, folks’ at 10am ET.
That’s hours after the alleged attacker plowed into a joyous crowd on Bourbon Street around 3am local time.
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‘Joe Biden is a heartless pos,’ wrote one user. ‘People lost their lives in a terror attack, and he just tweeted ‘Happy New Year, Folks.’ Jan 20th can’t come fast enough.’
Another wrote in disbelief: ‘This is President Joe Biden’s first post of the day. No mention of New Orleans or the victims. [Shaking my head].’
‘It’s utterly clumsy and tone deaf,’ user @LetsGetRandy chimed in.
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Over an hour after his New Year’s post on X, Biden issued a formal statement condemning the ‘act of terrorism’ and sending condolences to the victims’ families.
He then addressed reporters as he boarded a plane to Camp David on Wednesday, saying he’d have ‘more to say’ soon and that his first reaction was one of ‘anger and frustration.’
He would not comment on whether the suspect is an illegal migrant, as President-elect Donald Trump has suggested.
Earlier, the White House issued a statement saying he spoke with New Orleans’ Democratic mayor LaToya Cantrell on Wednesday morning to offer ‘full federal support.’
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The White House said that Biden has been briefed on all the ‘latest developments’ and will continue to get updates throughout the day.
The FBI is leading the investigation into the ‘horrific’ tragedy and is working closely with local and state officials.
He said he’s been ‘continually briefed since early this morning by federal law enforcement leadership and my homeland security team, including Secretary of Homeland Security Ali Mayorkas, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, and the Mayor of New Orleans/’
The president thanked the ‘brave and swift response of local law enforcement in preventing even greater death and injury.’
He says that his team will 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.’
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Attorney General Merrick Garland also issued a statement saying the country ‘woke up this morning to news of a terrible tragedy in New Orleans that killed at least 10 people and injured many more.’
‘My heart is broken for those who began their year by learning people they love were killed in this horrific attack, and my prayers are with the dozens who were injured, including the New Orleans Police Department Officers who risked their lives to save others.’
He said 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.
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The president had little on his public schedule and spent his time basking in the sun at a beachfront villa owned by friends Bill and Connie Neville.
He then spent the evening ringing in the New Year at the wedding of his niece, Missy Owens.
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump spent his New Year’s celebrating at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida where his daughter-in-law Lara Trump performed.
Biden, who meanwhile rang in 2025 with First Lady Jill Biden at their home in Wilmington, Delaware, was briefed on the attack ahead of the couple heading to presidential retreat Camp David.
But 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.
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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.
But a federal law enforcement official told NBC News that the suspect is believed to be dead.
* Original Article:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14241437/amp/joe-biden-responds-new-oreleans-tragedy.html?ito=smartnews
