Louisiana Gov. Ripped for ‘Tone Deaf’ Photo-Op Hours After NOLA Attack

The governor of Louisiana is drawing condemnation for a cheery photo he posted Wednesday night, just blocks away from the site of the deadly New Orleans car attack.

The post came about 16 hours after the New Year’s Day rampage on Bourbon Street in the city’s historic French Quarter, which killed at least 15 and hurt dozens more.

It showed Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican whose tenure began in 2024, smiling and offering a thumbs-up alongside several companions outside of an expensive steakhouse.

“Ate dinner tonight in New Orleans,” he wrote in its caption. “Proud to be a part of this incredibly resilient city. See everyone at the game tomorrow!”

It wasn’t long before figures on both sides of the political aisle made their own posts criticizing Landry’s as inappropriate in the wake of the brutal incident.

“This isn’t leadership, this is showboating,” wrote Davante Lewis, public service commissioner for Louisiana’s third district. “Jeff Landry will never miss a moment to turn anything into a spectacle. As we mourn, gather, and lift one another, I’m glad you got a nice dinner and get to go to the Sugar Bowl!”

“The Governors social media staffers need to be fired for this,” wrote conservative political commentator Benny Johnson. “Brain dead.”

Right-wing influencer Andy Ngo declared the post “tone deaf,” while his counterpart on the left Aaron Rupar called it
“ghoulish.”

Ron Filipkowksi, a liberal social media political commentator, reshared the post and wrote, “From the MAGA Governor of LA last night. Big smile and thumbs up. Great dinner, big game coming up.”

Landry seemed to respond to the criticism in a follow-up post an hour and a half later.

“It’s important to understand that we have many visitors in the city of New Orleans right now,” he wrote. “Safety is our top priority and we want our guests and the world to know that Louisiana does not cower to radical islamic terrorists.
Our restaurants and all New Orleans has to offer remain open for business!”

Landry is a far-right Republican who previously served as a congressman and Louisiana’s attorney general before winning his race for governor in 2023 on the back of an endorsement from Donald Trump.