Trump rails against FBI’s initial terror response: ‘When they fail, Americans die’

President-elect Donald Trump’s allies decried the FBI’s initial characterization of a brutal car attack in New Orleans as not related to terrorism, before the nation’s top federal law enforcement agency backpedaled on its stance and launched an investigation it said was linked to the Islamic State. related terrorism investigations.

“The FBI’s mission is not to fail. There is no room for error. When they fail, Americans die. Kash Patel must be confirmed as soon as possible,” a source close to Trump said Thursday A.M. told Fox News Digital.

Chaos erupted on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning as New Year’s Eve revelers took to the streets. The suspect, later identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, is accused of ramming a truck into a crowd on the beloved and famous party street, killing at least 15 people and dozens more. People get hurt. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, armed with a Glock pistol and a .308 rifle, shot at police and was killed.

As details emerged to the public Wednesday morning, law enforcement officials, including the FBI, held a news conference, with an agent initially telling the public the attack was not related to terrorism.

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“We are taking over the investigation of this incident. This was not a terrorist incident,” Alicia Duncan, FBI assistant special agent in charge of the New Orleans field office, said at a news conference.

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The mayor of New Orleans disputed Duncan’s claims at the same press conference, saying the attack was related to terrorism.

“You know, the city of New Orleans was affected by a terrorist attack. It’s all still under investigation. You’ll be hearing more about it later,” said Democratic Mayor LaToya Kantor, who has held the post since 2018. LaToya Cantrell said at a press conference.

The FBI issued a statement late Wednesday outlining that the attack was being investigated as an act of terrorism, including reports that an Islamic State flag was found on the truck that plowed into the crowd.

New Orleans Police Department Sergeant Anne Kirkpatrick issues a statement after a car plowed into a crowd at Canal and Bourbon Street in New Orleans on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

“An Islamic State flag was inside the vehicle and the FBI is working to determine the individual’s potential ties and relationships to the terrorist organization,” the FBI statement said.

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The statement added: “The FBI is the lead investigative agency and we are working with our partners to investigate this incident as an act of terrorism. We are aggressively pursuing all leads to identify any possible accomplices in this incident. .

Conservative lawmakers condemned the attack, mourned the victims and expressed anger at the FBI’s failure to handle the attack. Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI director, blasted the FBI in a series of messages posted on X by key Senate ally Sen. Marsha Blackburn, and once again rallying support for Patel’s confirmation as FBI director.

In the early morning of New Year’s Day in New Orleans on January 1, 2025, a man allegedly drove his car into a crowd, killing at least 10 people. Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies were working on the scene. (Michael DeMock/Getty Images)

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“The tragic terrorist attack in New Orleans that killed innocent people is a stark reminder of the importance of strong leadership. America needs fearless warriors like @Kash_Patel of the FBI,” Blackburn released on Wednesday.

Blackburn also questioned the FBI, saying it reported on the suspect’s Texas home after the media had already conducted surveillance on the home.

“The FBI did not show up at the NOLA suspect’s address until 1pm today. We have been on the scene before. No one came out of the house and no one answered the door,” New York Post reporter Jennie Taer posted on X on Wednesday.

Blackburn responded to a Washington Post reporter who said the FBI “failed” in its mission as the nation’s top law enforcement agency.

“The fact that journalists have better intelligence than the FBI tells us everything we need to know. The FBI failed at its core mission,” Blackburn wrote.

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When asked to comment on the criticism, the FBI referred Fox Digital to three of its previous statements about the attack, describing it as an act of terror but not citing New Orleans agents who said Wednesday the attack was not related to terrorism. Leave a comment.

“This morning, a man drove his car into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing multiple people and injuring dozens of others. The perpetrator later negotiated with local law enforcement and is now dead. The FBI is the main person responsible.” “We are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism,” the FBI said in one of three statements provided to Fox Digital.

Photo of Shamsuddin Jabbar released by the FBI. (FBI)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was identified as a 42-year-old U.S. citizen from Texas. An Army veteran, he served as a human resources specialist and information technology specialist from March 2007 to January 2015 and deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.

Trump lashed out at President Joe Biden and his administration’s policies in response to the attack.

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“With Biden’s ‘open borders policy,’ I have said many times during rallies and elsewhere that radical Islamic terrorism and other forms of violent crime will become so serious in the United States that it is difficult to imagine or believe. The time has come, and it’s worse than imagined.

New Orleans police and federal agents are investigating a suspected terrorist attack on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street in New Orleans on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. (Chris Granger/New Orleans Advocate via AP)

Biden expressed condolences for the attack on Wednesday, emphasizing that despite the violence, “our New Orleans will never, never, ever be defeated.”

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“New Orleans is a place unlike any other place in the world,” the president said. “This is a city full of charm and joy. There are many people around the world who love New Orleans for its history, culture and, most importantly, its people.”

“So I know that while this man unleashed a horrific attack on this city, our spirit in New Orleans can never, ever, ever be defeated,” he added.