In a bizarre turn of events, Michigan State Representative Matt Maddock stirred controversy after falsely claiming that three buses loaded with "illegal invaders" were being escorted from Detroit Metro Airport. Maddock's alarming tweet, which included grainy photos of buses and a plane, triggered a wave of criticism and ridicule from both local media and politicians.

The incident unfolded on Wednesday night when Maddock took to social media to express his concerns about the alleged transportation of undocumented migrants into the country. He tagged Pete Hoekstra, a former Michigan representative, and Ambassador to the Netherlands under Donald Trump, in his post, propelling the tweet to be viewed 4 million times on the platform.

Maddock's question, fueled by far-right conspiracy theories, insinuated that the Biden administration was secretly flying thousands of migrants into the United States. These unfounded claims have gained traction among supporters of the "Great Replacement" theory, a racist ideology alleging a deliberate demographic shift in America.

However, it was soon revealed that Maddock had mistakenly identified the transportation shown in the photos. The buses in question were, in fact, carrying the Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball team, who had arrived in Detroit for their Sweet 16 game against the Purdue Boilermakers.

Maxwell White, a producer for Detroit's WXYZ Channel 7, confirmed that the buses were for the Gonzaga team, and Rep. Eric Swalwell of California mocked Maddock for his mistake. Even after the truth was brought to light, Maddock dismissed it as a "kommie" (communist) talking point.

The Gonzaga team's own social media account shared images of their arrival in Detroit on an Allegiant Air plane, further debunking Maddock's claims. Nevertheless, Maddock persisted in pushing his false narrative, insisting that "100,000's of illegals" were pouring into the country and claiming that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was offering incentives for their arrival.

Maddock's misleading tweet garnered widespread criticism, with thousands of replies mocking his unfounded accusations against the celebrated American college basketball team. Despite the backlash, Maddock has shown no signs of backing down. It remains unclear if he will be present at Little Caesars Arena to confront the Gonzaga Bulldogs in person.

The incident highlights the dangers of spreading baseless conspiracy theories and the potential consequences that can arise. As public figures, politicians have a responsibility to verify the accuracy of their statements before contributing to the misinformation that can fuel hate and division.

As the Sweet 16 round of the men's NCAA basketball tournament continues, the focus should remain on the exciting matchups and the dedication of the teams, rather than on baseless claims and divisive rhetoric.