Even in an administration of shameless liars, Tricia McLaughlin is a standout. The Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman, who announced on Feb. 17 that she would be stepping down, has a gift for being able to issue preposterous falsehoods with a straight face on an hourly basis — usually in defense of Secretary Kristi Noem‘s deportation agenda. McLaughlin’s skill is chilling. She treats the English language the way Hannibal Lecter regards a murder victim he’s about to dissect and consume.
This is the same woman who accused Alex Pretti of wanting to “massacre law enforcement,” even though video showed the Minneapolis ICU nurse was helping a woman to her feet before he was tackled and killed with multiple gunshots by Border Patrol agents. McLaughlin accused Renee Good of “domestic terrorism,” even though video showed she was turning her car away from Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents before one shot and killed her in Minneapolis. The spokeswoman also accused Marimar Martinez, another of Border Patrol’s shooting victims, of “domestic terrorism,” even though video shows Martinez’s car was rammed by agents, and not the other way around. McLaughlin’s lies were easily disproved by reporting, videos and photos. Yes, Tricia, children are being zip-tied by federal agents. No, Tricia, former Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino was not struck in the head by rocks thrown by protesters.
