‘Bowling Green massacre’ trends following Kellyanne Conway’s latest blunder
Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to Donald Trump, has been ridiculed after criticizing the media for failing to report a terror attack which never actually happened.
After describing the inauguration crowd metrics as “alternative facts,” Conway has this time been mocked for inventing the ‘Bowling Green massacre’ in an apparent effort to justify Trump’s controversial immigration executive order.
.@KellyannePolls says that 2 Iraqi refugees "were the masterminds behind the Bowling Green massacre."
— Joe Sonka (@joesonka) February 3, 2017
(There was no such massacre.) pic.twitter.com/sD3Nnb5xfE
Speaking to MSNBC, the president’s senior aide cited the fictional massacre in an effort to compare Trump’s seven country travel ban with former president Barack Obama’s six-month slowdown of processing Iraqi refugees in 2011.
“I bet it’s brand new information to people that President Obama had a six-month ban on the Iraqi refugee program after two Iraqis came here to this country, were radicalized and they were the masterminds behind the Bowling Green massacre,” Conway said.
Thank you for bringing attention to this Kellyanne Conway. I myself was actually killed in the Bowling Green Massacre.
— Matt (@StartedTweeting) February 3, 2017
@roblawsonjr It looks pretty serious to me... pic.twitter.com/NSPS1HNX2A
— Paul Wisken (@greywhiskers) February 3, 2017
Conway was referring to two men from Bowling Green, Kentucky, who were arrested for sending money and weapons to Al-Qaeda in Iraq. The two are currently serving life sentences after being convicted on federal terrorism charges.
While the two men had previously fought as insurgents in Iraq and admitted to using improvised explosive devices (IEDS) against US soldiers, they did not carry out any terror attacks in the US.
“Neither was charged with plotting attacks within the United States,” the Department of Justice said in 2012.
Conway appeared to have recognized her error, calling the Bowling Green Massacre an “honest mistake.”
1/2: Honest mistakes abound. Last night, prominent editor of liberal site apologized for almost running a story re: tweet from fake account
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) February 3, 2017
It goes without saying that the internet had a lot of fun with Conway’s gaff, with Bowling Green Massacre trending on Twitter.
*logs in
— Hend Amry (@LibyaLiberty) February 3, 2017
*wonders why everyone is disrespectfully mocking something called the Bowling Green massacre
*searches term
(9 seconds later) 😐
Guys, these Bowling Green Massacre jokes are a little too soon. Out of respect, we should wait until it takes place. #AltFacts
— Rob Lawson (@roblawsonjr) February 3, 2017
Before the day is out, Trump will recall seeing thousands of Muslims celebrating the Bowling Green massacre.
— Damien Owens (@OwensDamien) February 3, 2017
RIP to those lost in the Bowling Green Massacre, and those who lost their life in grizzly bear attacks in schools #BowlingGreenMasacre
— Poetic Flavor (@PoeticFlavor) February 3, 2017
A Bowling Green Massacre Fund was even set up to help the ‘victims.’ The donations link redirected to the ACLU.
Bowling Green Massacre Fund Launched to Help Victims of the Tragedy in Conway's mind. Directs to ACLU Donation Page! https://t.co/NvQ6c1ro2Dpic.twitter.com/WOVpyEghHe
— Impeach Donald Trump (@Impeach_D_Trump) February 3, 2017
Gonna hold a fundraiser for the victims of the Bowling Green Massacre. How does February 30th work for everyone?
— Jon Risinger (@JonRisinger) February 3, 2017
First they blamed Obama for the Katrina response. Then they blamed him for the 2008 crash. Now they blame him for the Bowling Green Massacre
— Richard Hine (@richardhine) February 3, 2017
Some were angry that the president’s senior advisor would diminish the tragedy of real terrorist attacks by making one up.
Jokes aside, Kellyanne Conway's made-up Bowling Green Massacre is offensive and makes light of American lives lost in real terrorist attacks
— Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) February 3, 2017
On a serious note, the Trump administration has officially spent more time on the fake Bowling Green Massacre than the real Quebec Attacks. pic.twitter.com/me14LVdWKi
— Joe Keene (@joekeene) February 3, 2017
@joesonka@KellyannePolls Why didn't Matthews ask what the hell she was talking about?
— George Peterson (@petersongeorged) February 3, 2017
Creative social media users were inspired to combine Bowling Green massacre jokes with other false statements made by the Trump administration.
I learned about the bowling green massacre in my alternative history class taught by Betsy Devos
— D.J. Andrews (@DJDarrel3) February 3, 2017
@pattonoswalt@DGiantpic.twitter.com/Yk7yTZzNSs
— Jesse White (@jessewhite46) February 3, 2017
Saddened and sickened by Frederick Douglass' silence surrounding the Bowling Green Massacre.
— Natasha Rothwell (@natasharothwell) February 3, 2017
When Trump mentions millions voted fraudulently in the election, remind him millions also died fraudulently in the Bowling Green Massacre...
— Cyrus McQueen (@CyrusMMcQueen) February 3, 2017
how funny would it be if Brian Williams tweeted "and there I was, covering the Bowling Green Massacre"
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) February 3, 2017
