A U-Haul truck hit the security barriers at the north end of Lafayette Square near the White House earlier this week. The Washington Post reported that the driver, whose identity was not revealed by the police, is facing charges of making threats against the president, vice president, or family members. He is also charged with assault, using a deadly weapon, and trespassing.
The Post reported that “Police refused to give further details about the nature and extent of the alleged threats against the president, vice-president or their families” on Tuesday morning.
Secret Service officials opened an investigation when the box truck struck security barriers at the north side of Lafayette Square. Anthony Guglielmi, a Secret Service spokesman, said that no Secret Service personnel or White House staff were injured. According to him, a preliminary investigation revealed that the driver may have “intentionally” struck the barriers.
The truck was thoroughly examined by bomb technicians. No explosive devices were found. Video footage shows law enforcement officers handling a Nazi flag and other evidence such as a black bag, duct tape, or a black backpack. The flag was then placed on the ground, a curious detail that has raised many questions on social networks, including accusations of the incident being staged.
Michael Knowles, of the Daily Wire, observed: “I couldn’t help but be impressed by how neatly and precisely the first responders arranged that new Nazi flag in front of the cameras.”
The incident follows the backlash against Joe Biden after he falsely claimed during his Howard University commencement speech that “white supremacy is the most dangerous terrorist threat to America.”
On Twitter, some have been less subtle about suggesting that the Nazi Flag was an object to support Biden’s story. The U.S. Park Police also identified the driver as Sai Varshith Kandula (19), from Chesterfield, Missouri.
Breaking News: I have a very reliable tip that the driver of the U-haul that crashed into Lafayette Square near the White House gate is Sai Varshith Kandula. This pic is from his Missouri Driver’s License. pic.twitter.com/XNLmN9l39J
— Karol Markowicz (@karol) May 23, 2023
The suspicions surrounding this incident seem justified to me, given what we already know.
As usual, mainstream media was eager to report the flag. Newsweek emphasized this fact. The publication headlined “Nazi flag inside U-Haul truck that crashed by White House video shows,” Although the story has not been updated to include the identity of Kandula, many social media users are already convinced that he is a white nationalist.