Louisiana Republican Governor Jeff Landry was criticized by the left and the right for posting what many saw as a "tone deaf" photo taken outside a fancy New Orleans steak house just hours after New Orleans' deadly New Year's Day terrorist attack.
The attack on Bourbon Street claimed the lives of 14 revelers and the perpetrator, who was fatally shot during a firefight with police after driving his speeding truck around a barricade and into the crowd. Approximately 30 people were injured in the incident.
The assault marked the deadliest ISIS-inspired attack on U.S. soil in years, underscoring federal officials' warnings about a resurgent international terrorism threat.
And about 16 hours later, Landry shared the following message accompanied by a photo showing himself smiling and giving a thumbs-up alongside several companions outside a high-end steakhouse:
"Ate dinner tonight in New Orleans. Proud to be a part of this incredibly resilient city. See everyone at the game tomorrow!"
You can see his post and the photo below.
@LAGovJeffLandry/X
He was swiftly criticized.
Later, Landry seemed to respond to the criticism in a follow-up post:
"It’s important to understand that we have many visitors in the city of New Orleans right now. Safety is our top priority and we want our guests and the world to know that Louisiana does not cower to radical islamic terrorists."
"Our restaurants and all New Orleans has to offer remain open for business!"
You can see his post below.
But no one was buying his defense.
Landry's post came amid new developments in the investigation into the attack.
New Orleans officials disclosed that the mechanical barricades around Bourbon Street, designed to block vehicle access, were non-operational at the time of the attack due to an ongoing replacement project. Temporary barriers had been set up by police, but the attacker circumvented them by driving onto the sidewalk.
Additionally, while authorities initially suspected that the perpetrator had accomplices, on Thursday, the FBI and New Orleans Police announced they now believe he acted alone. The FBI's Houston office also assured the public, stating that "there is no threat to residents in that area."
