Former Trump administration border czar Tom Homan criticized President Joe Biden's leadership following two violent incidents on New Year's Day.
According to Daily Mail, Homan suggested both the New Orleans truck attack and the Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion were "suicide missions" during a Fox News interview on Thursday morning.
The incidents claimed multiple lives in New Orleans when Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texas-born U.S. citizen and Army veteran, drove a truck into crowds celebrating New Year's Day on Bourbon Street.
In Las Vegas, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump Hotel, with authorities identifying Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old active-duty soldier, as the suspect.
Homan focused his criticism on U.S. border policies despite no immediate connection between immigration and the attacks. He argued that the current administration has deliberately weakened border security, creating what he views as vulnerabilities in national defense. The former border chief predicted investigators would find both suspects had traveled abroad recently and were inspired by ISIS.
President Biden addressed the attacks on Wednesday night, urging against hasty conclusions while investigations continue. The FBI has indicated they believe Jabbar acted alone in what they're characterizing as a lone-wolf terrorist attack. Law enforcement discovered an ISIS flag in Jabbar's rented truck along with potentially explosive devices.
Speaking on Fox News, Homan expressed his concerns about national security. He shared his prediction about the investigation's outcome as he stated:
I think you're going to find they both have recent and foreign travel. They were both inspired by ISIS.
Las Vegas authorities confirmed Livelsberger rented the Cybertruck in Colorado Springs before driving it to Las Vegas. Officials discovered fuel canisters and large firework mortars in the vehicle following the explosion. The sheriff reported that Livelsberger had sustained a gunshot wound to the head prior to the explosion.
The FBI continues to investigate possible connections between the two incidents, though they have not established definitive links. Las Vegas investigators stated they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public. Both attacks prompted immediate responses from law enforcement and homeland security teams.
President Biden convened with his Homeland Security team in the White House Situation Room on Thursday to address the situation. The meeting followed his earlier statements emphasizing the importance of a measured response while investigations proceed.
The tragic events of New Year's Day have intensified the debate over national security measures and emergency response protocols. Tom Homan and other former Trump administration officials are using these incidents to advocate for stricter border policies despite no evidence linking the attacks to immigration issues.
The New Orleans attack resulted in 15 fatalities when Jabbar, a U.S.-born citizen, drove through crowds celebrating on Bourbon Street. Law enforcement's swift response ended in a shootout where Jabbar was killed. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas incident involving Livelsberger, an active-duty soldier, remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the motivation behind the Cybertruck explosion.
What began as New Year's celebrations in two major U.S. cities turned into scenes of violence and terror. Federal and local authorities continue their investigations into both incidents while political figures debate the implications for national security policy. As investigations proceed, law enforcement maintains there is no immediate evidence connecting the two attacks, though they continue to examine all possibilities.
