President Donald Trump criticized the FBI on Sunday after it announced its San Antonio field office would investigate a Friday incident in which a train of vehicles flying pro-Trump flags followed a campaign bus for presidential candidate Joe Biden on a Texas highway.
Trump tweeted, “In my opinion, these patriots did nothing wrong. Instead, the FBI & Justice should be investigating the terrorists, anarchists, and agitators of ANTIFA, who run around burning down our Democrat run cities and hurting our people!”
In my opinion, these patriots did nothing wrong. Instead, the FBI & Justice should be investigating the terrorists, anarchists, and agitators of ANTIFA, who run around burning down our Democrat run cities and hurting our people! https://t.co/of6Lna3HMU
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2020
Trump’s tweet came in response to a Sunday tweet by Austin American Statesman journalist Tony Plohetski, who said, “NEW: Very short statement from the FBI confirming that they are investigating incident Friday involving Biden bus.” The screenshot of the FBI statement reads, “FBI San Antonio is aware of the incident and is investigating. No further information is available at this time.”
Video from the incident showed one of the pro-Trump vehicles and a white SUV also following the Biden campaign bus made contact with one another.
The White SUV seen in the video may have been one driven by a Biden campaign staffer. Travis County Democratic Party Chair Katie Naranjo told the Texas Tribune that she was on the phone with a staff member aboard the bus during the incident and that the staff member told her a truck collided with one of the staff member vehicles.
A Twitter user who said he had flown to Texas to help with a Biden bus tour also tweeted, “These Trump supporters, many of whom were armed, surrounded the bus on the interstate and attempted to drive it off the road. They outnumbered police 50-1, and they ended up hitting a staffer’s car.”
These Trump supporters, many of whom were armed, surrounded the bus on the interstate and attempted to drive it off the road. They outnumbered police 50-1, and they ended up hitting a staffer’s car. 3/
— Dr. Eric Cervini (@ericcervini) October 31, 2020
Additional video from the incident appears to show the moments before the collision incident.
A Twitter user posted the video with the caption, “Amazing, right?”
Amazing, right? pic.twitter.com/JsYYbEGLtx https://t.co/bVq5ATqkRU
— ChangeAgent (@ScotJohn_) November 1, 2020
In the video, what appears to be the same white SUV involved in the later collision could be seen following behind the Biden campaign bus. The white SUV appeared to move over one lane to the left. As the white SUV moved over, a dark-colored pick-up truck flying Trump flags pulled in behind the Biden campaign bus. The white SUV can then be seen edging back over into the lane line behind the bus, driving close to the pro-Trump truck.