The Minneapolis incident in which an ICE agent mortally wounded a woman has sparked intense reactions across the United States. Protests have been held, discussions have become heated, and many people have tried to be careful with their words when addressing such a sensitive and serious situation. While most public figures understand the need for restraint, there are always exceptions. One of those exceptions appears to be a North Carolina Congressional Candidate named Austin Jay Ayers.
In the aftermath of the Minneapolis incident, the North Carolina Congressional Candidate shared what was clearly an AI-generated image depicting the event. Along with the image, he claimed that the woman involved was attempting to run over an ICE agent, asserting that her car was driving straight toward him with no attempt to turn away.
However, those claims were quickly challenged. Video footage from the Minneapolis incident circulated widely online and contradicted the narrative presented by the North Carolina Congressional Candidate. In the real footage, the woman is visibly trying to maneuver her vehicle away from the agent rather than aiming directly at him. The assertion that she was deliberately trying to harm the ICE agent did not hold up under scrutiny. As a result, many observers concluded that the North Carolina Congressional Candidate was spreading misinformation about the Minneapolis incident.
Facebook users who saw the post immediately began pointing out the inconsistencies. Several noted that the image was obviously AI-generated. One user highlighted a specific detail, saying that the passenger door was not open in the real video of the Minneapolis incident, while it appeared open in the image shared by the North Carolina Congressional Candidate. Others added that various visual elements did not match the actual footage.
When confronted, the North Carolina Congressional Candidate responded by saying that the image was meant to “illustrate the incident” and insisted that it was “extremely accurate.” Commenters quickly pushed back, pointing out that the only accurate detail appeared to be the color of the car. Another user asked how he obtained the image, to which the North Carolina Congressional Candidate replied with insults rather than providing a clear answer.
As criticism mounted, the North Carolina Congressional Candidate attempted to walk back his statements. He offered a partial apology, but in the same breath accused critics of being “brainwashed.” He further claimed that there was no way a federal agent would intentionally kill someone and accused others of “wanting to support illegals entering our country,” ending his remarks with profanity.
Many online users were not impressed by his responses or tone. Criticism continued to grow, with commenters condemning both the misinformation about the Minneapolis incident and the way the North Carolina Congressional Candidate handled being challenged. “What a trash person,” one user wrote. Others expressed concern about the possibility of someone with this approach to truth and accountability holding public office.
Another user commented, “He has posted even more garbage since this. Dude is a nut job. Fortunately he has no chance of winning. Edit: He’s running on the libertarian ticket. Our system of government makes it nearly impossible for third parties to win. If he was part of the GOP I would be more concerned.”
