Charlie Sykes: How Fox News made a 'tragic car accident' a 'case study in disinformation'

When a deadly car crash occurred near the Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge on Wednesday, November 22, Fox News and other right-wing media outlets were quick to report that a terrorist incident had occurred. But an investigation showed no evidence of foul play near the bridge, which links Niagara Falls, New York in the U.S. with Niagara Falls, Ontario in Canada.

The couple killed in the crash were identified as 56-year-old Kurt P. Villani, the driver, and his wife Monica Villani. The crash occurred on the U.S. side of the border.

In a scathing column published by The Bulwark on November 27, Never Trump conservative Charlie Sykes lambasts Fox News and others who automatically assumed a terrorist attack occurred without waiting for the facts.

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Sykes explains, "A tragic car accident last Wednesday near a bridge on the Canadian-American border became a case study in disinformation, ideologically motivated opportunism, and all manner of demagogic b******t. And, of course, it all started with Fox News…. MAGA fluffer Benny Johnson enthusiastically amplified Fox's fake report of a 'terrorist attack.'"

Sykes notes reporting by MeidasTouch, which was vehemently critical of Fox News.

On November 23, MeidasTouch reported, "Fox baselessly began employing the term 'Islamic terrorism,' describing hypothetical scenarios regarding potential casualties if the vehicle had advanced. They continued to tell their audience that the vehicle contained explosives. Fox Host John Roberts even speculated that the premature detonation of the vehicle might be attributed to the driver's insufficient expertise in handling explosives."

Roberts, MeidasTouch notes, told viewers, "We don't know how long the people who perpetrated this attack have been in this country. Did they recently come across? Did they come into the country legally? Did they come across illegally and claim asylum? Were they some of the nearly 1 million got-aways who come into this country? Were they radicalized in this country?"

READ MORE: 'Not responsible': Officials slam speculation on Rainbow Bridge explosion as Fox calls it terrorist attack

Sykes points out that in fact, "The driver was not an immigrant, an asylum seeker, a radicalized lone-wolf, a jihadi, or one of the 'nearly 1 million got-aways who come into this country.'"

The Never Trumper notes that Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), 2022 Arizona GOP gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake, and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York) all parroted the false claim that a terrorist attack had occurred.

"There was no terrorist attack," Sykes emphasizes. "No immigrants were involved."

READ MORE: 'Monster' Ted Cruz blasted over false terror attack claim: 'Truth means nothing to MAGA'

Read Charlie Sykes' full column for The Bulwark at this link.