Media reports earlier this week falsely claimed FEMA workers in North Carolina were being “hunted” by a rogue group of armed Trump-supporting militia members who were reportedly angry at the agency due to “misinformation” spread by Donald Trump.
Newsweek ran with the alarming headline, “Armed Militia ‘Hunting FEMA’ Causes Hurricane Responders to Evacuate,” while The Guardian wrote, “North Carolina hurricane recovery team relocated amid threat of ‘armed militia.'”
The lies started with a Washington (CIA) Post article alleging numerous federal agencies were emailed to announce FEMA advised “all federal responders [in] Rutherford, NC, to stand down and evacuate the county immediately” because the National Guard had encountered “trucks of armed militia saying there [sic] were out hunting FEMA.”
NBC News ran with the claim despite the fact they couldn’t verify the alleged threat.
North Carolina Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards told MSNBC, “We had two counties with folks reported with different militia groups attacking and threatening FEMA.”
NBC blamed the alleged threats on “misinformation amplified in part by former President Trump.”
WOW. Federal emergency workers were forced to pause their hurricane recovery efforts in NC after National Guard troops discovered trucks of armed militia, who were “out hunting FEMA.”
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) October 14, 2024
Trump's lies have real consequences.pic.twitter.com/tMDPgJgTVH
On Monday afternoon, a man named William Parsons was arrested for allegedly making a threat directed at FEMA employees.
Parsons was given a $10,000 secured bond that he paid and has since been released from custody.
Media outlets that ran with the fake news were forced to admit that a single person, not a group of armed MAGA men, was behind the reported threat.
Man this "militia threatening FEMA" story is falling apart QUICKLY.
— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) October 14, 2024
It's almost like a lie was made up to cover for mission failure. Almost…#militia #FEMA #appalachians pic.twitter.com/ENQAHsuhmb
Check out some of the major leftist social media accounts that spread the fake story below:
WOW. Federal emergency workers were forced to pause their hurricane recovery efforts in NC after National Guard troops discovered trucks of armed militia, who were “out hunting FEMA.”
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) October 14, 2024
Trump's lies have real consequences.pic.twitter.com/tMDPgJgTVH
Imagine being so fucking stupid that you’re out “hunting” for FEMA officials and impacting recovery operations.
— Angry Staffer 🌻 (@Angry_Staffer) October 14, 2024
The GOP is irrevocably broken. Vote all of these assholes out.
Stop hunting FEMA you crazy fucks.
— John Collins (@Logically_JC) October 14, 2024
The fake news media machine will only be disseminating more false stories as the 2024 presidential election approaches.