Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Trump advisor justifies travel ban with 'Bowling Green massacre' - which never happened

Kellyanne Conway also erroneously said that Trump’s travel ban is similar to a move by Barack Obama.

MSNBC / YouTube

DONALD TRUMP’S ADVISOR Kellyanne Conway has told US TV that the President’s controversial travel ban would avoid events like the “Bowling Green massacre” – an event which never happened.

Speaking to MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, Trump’s former campaign manager said that Barack Obama had banned travel for Muslims in light of the massacre in Kentucky. But both parts of her answer are untrue.

“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 radicalised and they were the masterminds behind the Bowling Green massacre.

“Most people don’t know that because it didn’t get covered.”

In 2011, two Iraqi refugees were arrested in Bowling Green on terrorism charges. When US authorities looked into the case, it transpired one of their fingerprints had been found on a roadside bomb used to attack American troops in Iraq.

That led to an Obama-ordered review of 57,000 asylum applications. Because of the intensive nature of the work, applications from Iraq were slowed down. However, no ban was ever ordered, nor was there any massacre or planned massacre in Bowling Green. The two men arrested, Waad Ramadan Alwan and Mohanad Shareef Hammadi were suspected of plotting to send money and weapons back to Iraqi insurgents, not attack America.

Twitter users have roundly mocked Conway’s comments, pointing out that the Massacre in Bowling Green is, in fact, a haunted house attraction.

Read: ‘I remember a Paddy’s Day visit by Haughey when four Irish were put on a London-bound flight in handcuffs’

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
128 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John F
    Favourite John F
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 10:07 AM

    What purpose does it serve to let Micky swan around South America? Living the life of luxury while he preaches his Socialist Bullshit here in Ireland? Be gone you fool, we don’t need a president

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aunty Simmonite
    Favourite Aunty Simmonite
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 10:23 AM

    They don’t call them Champagne Socialists for nothing.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Le Blanc
    Favourite Tony Le Blanc
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 11:52 AM

    ‘Micky Swan’…. I shall be using that in conversation today.

    Couldn’t agree more, if we want to send out trade missions then lets send out experienced business people, not this pointless twerp.

    14
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nora Assinder
    Favourite Nora Assinder
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 1:54 PM

    Business people! You must be joking. Look where they got us with their greed.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Gorry
    Favourite Martin Gorry
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 9:54 AM

    And this little pointless junket cost us how much?, more than some struggling families have to live on in a year. Time to cull these wasteful political positions. I’ve no doubt the President is a genuine and honest man, but we simply cannot afford the baggage while being picked clean by an inept political system stretching back decades.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute neeneee
    Favourite neeneee
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 9:44 AM

    What a waste of time and money

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnny Downes
    Favourite Johnny Downes
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 9:58 AM

    Agree. A total waste of money, and Joe Costello – Minister for Nothing, along for the ride, visiting a banana plant- how apt coming from a Banana Republic!

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Reid
    Favourite Fergal Reid
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 11:13 AM

    Glad to see the mentalists didn’t let this go. Head of State in foreign visit shocker! These things have been going on since the days of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Calm down, lads. This is part of his job.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Darby
    Favourite James Darby
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 10:37 AM

    Small man makes big impression.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Ryan
    Favourite Dermot Ryan
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 10:50 AM

    Seeing as impeachment of presidents is in the news today , when will this president be impeached for failure to protect our Constitution?
    Wake up Dail Eireann or loose your jobs !

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian Walsh
    Favourite Ian Walsh
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 12:28 PM

    It seems el Presidente has been on a global junket since being elected. I would be interested to know how much travelling he has done compared to previous presidents.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Smith
    Favourite Tom Smith
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 1:58 PM

    Just hope he’s not stopped at Dublin airport with a load of coke in his hair bun.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Arthur Callaghan
    Favourite Arthur Callaghan
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 11:12 AM

    our president looks like Doc out of back to the future :)

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Hartnett
    Favourite Jim Hartnett
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 1:58 PM

    An awful lot of angry red hands supporting Higgins and his junket. Genuine question, what would they have done if he had to fly back to nationalise debt as he did when at a gig in Rome some time back?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aunty Simmonite
    Favourite Aunty Simmonite
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 2:25 PM

    I wonder will he bring us back a parrot?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Collins
    Favourite Kevin Collins
    Report
    Oct 30th 2013, 7:36 PM

    *La ultíma día* surely??

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds