The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after a 948-foot-long container ship collided with it early Tuesday. Stunning video of the incident has circulated online, and search-and-rescue procedures are currently underway. “This is an unthinkable tragedy,” Baltimore’s Democratic mayor, Brandon Scott, said at a press conference. “We have to first and foremost pray for all of those who are impacted, those families, pray for our first responders and thank them.”
Right-wingers are more concerned with using the incident to attack the Biden administration and spread conspiracy theories — as has become the case with just about any news-making tragedy in America.
Maria Bartiromo tried to blame the border while interviewing Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) on Fox Business. “You’ve been talking a lot about the potential for wrongdoing or the potential for foul play given the wide-open border,” she said. “Why have the Republicans had such a hard time securing this border? The president has said he’s not going to take any executive action.”
Matt Schlapp, the chairman of the American Conservative Union, said on Newsmax that “we’ve never fully come out of all the lockdowns and the Covid issues,” adding that “if you talk to employers in America, filling slots with employees who aren’t drug-addled is a very huge problem.” He prefaced the implication that drugs may have played a role by noting that he “is no expert at what’s going on on the seas.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) suggested Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act may be to blame. Pizzagate conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec posted a picture of the wreckage along with the caption: “POV: Your President is Joe Biden.” Several right-wing accounts called for Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to resign. Several others blamed diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Conspiracy theories have been plentiful, as well. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) questioned whether itw as “an intentional attack or an accident.” Recently arrested right-wing influencer Andrew Tate wrote that the ship was “cyber-attacked,” claiming it “deliberately steers toward the bridge supports.” Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist Alex Jones agreed. “Looks deliberate to me,” he wrote, noting that a cyber-attack is “probable” and that “WW3 has already started.”
There is no evidence for any of this, of course. The incident is still being investigated, and Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told reporters on Tuesday that the ship issued a mayday call ahead of the collision, allowing authorities to stop bridge traffic.
“These people are heroes,” he said. “They saved lives last night.”
