Michigan State Representative Matt Maddock mistook the Gonzaga men’s basketball team buses for “squatters.”
The Bulldogs touched down at Detroit Metro Airport Wednesday night ahead of their Sweet 16 game against top-seeded Purdue at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit on Friday.
However, the team’s arrival in The Motor City drew the ire of Republican Rep. Maddock.
Maddock, who says he has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump in his X biography, shared photos of the Gonzaga plane, an Allegiant Airways plane, and the team’s three buses waiting at the end of the runway toward X.
He claimed that the buses, which appeared to have a police escort, were full of “illegal invaders.”
Michigan State Rep. Matt Maddock mistook the Gonzaga men’s basketball team buses for “squatters” Wednesday night.
Maddock shared photos of the team’s buses at Detroit Metro Airport, claiming they were loaded with ‘illegal invaders,’ forcing X’s fact-checker to issue a correction.
The Bulldogs arrived in Detroit ahead of their Sweet 16 game against top-seeded Purdue.
‘It’s happening right now. Three buses have just been loaded with squatters in the Detroit Metro. Does anyone have any idea where they are headed with their police escort? he posted, tagging Pete Hoekstra, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party.
But Maddock, an election denier who predicted another American civil war, was humiliated when X’s fact-checker was forced to add a footnote to his post, clarifying that the buses were actually transporting the basketball team. , not illegal immigrants.
‘The buses and police escort are for the Gonzaga University men’s basketball team, which will play a Sweet Sixteen game at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit on Friday. 3/29,’ the warning read, adding four links to tweets correcting Maddock’s post.
Despite being corrected by the social media platform, Maddock doubled down on his statement Thursday morning.
‘We know this is happening. Hundreds of thousands of illegals are arriving in our country,” he added in the following thread.
‘We know it’s happening in Michigan. Our own governor offers money to take them in! Since we can’t trust #FakeNews to investigate, citizens will do it. The process of investigating these issues takes time.”
The Wayne County Airport Authority, also known as Metro Detroit, also attempted to debunk Maddock’s claims Thursday afternoon, issuing a clarification.
‘The four men’s basketball teams competing in the NCAA Sweet 16 Tournament at Little Caesars Arena arrived in DTW on Wednesday night. “The buses seen in a photo circulating online were transporting the basketball teams and their respective personnel,” the WCAA said.
Maddock, who claims he has the backing of Donald Trump, doubled down on his claim Thursday.
According Flight reported, Only one Allegiant flight landed at DTW on Wednesday, at 7:26 pm, about an hour before Maddock posted his claim.
All three buses received a police escort to the team hotel, which is standard procedure for traveling teams.
Social media users criticized Maddock for his statement in the responses to his initial post.
“Probably NCAA Mens Sweet 16 teams playing at LCA on Friday and Sunday,” one user wrote along with several clown emojis, to which Maddock responded, “Sure kommie.” Good topic of conversation.’
“That plane came from Spokane Washington, home of Gonzaga, who happens to be playing in Detroit for the sweet 16,” another user posted. ‘Those buses are for the team and their equipment. If you’re going to be a fear monger in TL, you better step up your game.
‘You know it’s a basketball team, right?’ asked another account called ‘Lynda hates Republican thugs.’ —You sound hysterical and hormonal. Typical MAGA snowflake.’
Another chimed in, adding: “I’m just trying to figure out why so many people accidentally marked their name on a ballot.”
Social media users criticized Maddock for his statement in the response to his initial post.
‘Thanks for the warning. “Those invading college basketball teams are really scary,” said one post full of sarcasm. “They could terrorize the city with quick dribbles, passes and (clutch your pearls) three-pointers.”
Maddock was first elected in 2018 before rising to prominence in early 2021, when he and his wife Meshawn led efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election vote in Michigan.
He was reportedly expelled from the Republican caucus in April 2022 for allegedly violating confidentiality rules, but was reinstated in January 2023.
In July of last year, his wife was one of 16 “false electors” charged with forgery and other serious crimes by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.