Greg Abbott Faces MAGA Backlash

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has come under fire on social media after a video was released purporting to show an open gate in part of the border wall between Texas and Mexico at Eagle Pass, through which irregular migrants can pass unimpeded.

The footage was posted on X, formerly Twitter, by Chase Geiser, a reporter for the conservative-leaning conspiracy website Infowars. Along with the video he commented: "Why doesn't Greg Abbott close the gate?"

In the video Geiser hit out at the level of border security in the area commenting: "It is abundantly obvious how easy it is to come into the United States from Mexico through any number of different ways in the openings in the wall that we have here.

"The wall ends down there, you can just simply walk around it, but if you don't feel like walking around it you can simply walk through this open gate right here.

"There's a no trespassing sign that says it's private property. I believe there's a farm on the other side of this wall here, but the Rio Grande is right there and Mexico is right there, so you could feasibly cross the Rio Grande, cut through this little piece of private property, then walk right through this open gate into the United States."

During the clip a pickup truck, which Geiser identifies as being driven by a member of the Texas State Guard, drives through the open gate. Newsweek has contacted Governor Abbott's press office for comment by email.

The video sparked a furious response on X from right-wing activists, many of whom identified as supporters of Donald Trump or with the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement that supports him.

One was Carm Randazzo, a Trump supporter from Buffalo New York, who said: "Hey Greg Abbott, did you leave the gate open? #CloseTheBorder."

Robert Preston, an X user from Texas who posts in support of a range of conservative causes, wrote: "Greg Abbott- .5 miles away from the pass – a gate wide open..."

Responding to a video of wall construction posted by Abbott, Roger DeReu, an X user from San Antonio, replied: "Why put up a wall when there is an open gate every 1/2 mile or so? (as seen on recent video near Eagle Pass)."

The UltraMAGA-ThreeSixNine account, which has nearly 9,000 X followers, posted: "Abbott has no real interest in closing the border."

However, some people came to Abbott's defense, with one commenting: "Gate is Federal property. The State can't touch it. We have to erect our own barriers."

A second posted: "Because it's literally federal property."

Tensions between Texan authorities and the federal government surged after the Supreme Court ruled on January 22 that federal agents can remove razor wire placed along the border on Abbott's orders.

Abbott responded by invoking "Texas' constitutional authority to defend and protect itself" against what he described as an "invasion," with 25 other Republican governors releasing a joint-statement expressing their support for his position.

On Wednesday, the Texas Military Department sparked controversy after posting a photograph on social media of the "Come And Take It" flag, used by Texan rebels during their war with Mexico, alongside the state flag.