There's Not 1 but 3 Things Wrong With Kellyanne Conway's "Bowling Green Massacre" Comment

Kellyanne Conway is infamous for coining the term "alternative facts," and she continued the political practice in a recent interview. Speaking with Chris Matthews on MSNBC's Hardball, she mentioned a terrorist attack in Bowling Green, KY, that never happened.

In the interview, the counselor to the president said that before Donald Trump's controversial refugee and travel ban, there was a ban under President Barack Obama. "[There was a] six-month ban on the Iraqi refugee program after two Iraqis came to this country, were radicalized, and were the masterminds behind the Bowling Green massacre," she said, adding that "most people don't know that because it didn't get covered" in the media.

There are a few issues with this statement. First, there was no Bowling Green massacre. In reality, two Iraqi citizens were arrested in 2011 for attempting to send money and weapons to al-Qaeda members in Iraq to kill US soldiers. Secondly, Obama did not enact a ban on Iraqi refugees but, according to The Washington Post, instead ordered a stricter screening process and more extensive background checks. Finally, the media did cover the news, as evidenced by the ABC article Conway cited in a tweet she sent on Friday acknowledging her mistake.

Such misinformation that has the potential to spread fear is dangerous, especially coming from the White House. Twitter users were quick to point this out while mocking Conway for her statement.