Topline
A Michigan state lawmaker said in a post on X that buses at the Detroit Metro Airport were carrying “illegal invaders” when they were actually carrying NCAA men’s basketball teams arriving to play in the Sweet Sixteen, and he continued to stand by the claim in subsequent posts on Thursday.
Key Facts
Republican Rep. Matt Maddock posted photos on X, formerly known as Twitter, from the Detroit Metro Airport Wednesday night with the caption: “Three busses (sic) just loaded up with illegal invaders at Detroit Metro. Anyone have any idea where they’re headed with their police escort?”
A representative from the Wayne County Airport Authority confirmed the buses in the photograph were “transporting the basketball teams and their respective staffs”—not immigrants, as Maddock implied.
Despite Maddock’s claim being disproved, the state lawmaker doubled down on the post Thursday, saying in another post: “We know this is happening. 100,000’s of illegals are pouring into our country.”
In a third post Thursday, Maddock wrote, “This is happening (sic) many places and it is well documented and the media isn’t reporting it. Why doesn’t the #HostileMedia do its job and tell us how many are here? Is it 6 million or 16 million?”
Forbes has reached out to Maddock for comment.
Surprising Fact
Maddock continued to reply to his original tweet throughout the afternoon on Thursday, making a number of claims about the Biden administration and Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer “flying and bussing” immigrants into Detroit. From 3:20 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern time, Maddock responded to his original tweet at least six times.
Tangent
Four teams—Creighton University, University of Tennessee, Purdue University and Gonzaga University—are competing in March Madness’ Sweet Sixteen at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit starting Friday.
Key Background
Maddock was elected to the Michigan legislature in 2018 and has since been reelected to serve another district after redistricting. Maddock was endorsed by former President Donald Trump in 2021 when he was running for reelection, and promoted false claims that Trump won the 2020 election in Michigan. He identifies as a “conservative Republican” and his priorities include “lowering the cost of energy and cutting taxes to make Michigan more competitive for jobs,” according to the Michigan GOP. Maddock’s wife, Meshawn Maddock, was charged in Michigan for her role in a fake elector scheme that attempted to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss, according to the New York Times.
