Why does wp_query make my website loop endlessly? - wordpress

Question

I have a custom post type named " actualites ".
I want to wp_query the post data ( title and content for now ).
Here's the code I used :
<div class="row">
<div class="col-sm-8 blog-main">
<?php
// the query
$query = new WP_Query( array( 'post_type' => 'actualites' ) ); ?>
<?php if ( $the_query->have_posts() ) : ?>
<!-- pagination here -->
<!-- the loop -->
<?php while ( $the_query->have_posts() ) : $the_query->the_post();
$the_query->the_post();
echo '<div class="blog-post">';
echo '<h2 class="blog-post-title">' . get_the_title() . '</h2>';
echo '<p class="the-content">' . the_content() . '</p>';
echo '</div>';
endwhile; ?>
<!-- end of the loop -->
<!-- pagination here -->
<?php wp_reset_postdata(); ?>
<?php else : ?>
<p><?php esc_html_e( 'Désolé, aucun post ne correspond à votre requête.' ); ?></p>
<?php endif; ?>
</div>
<!-- /.blog-main -->
<div class="col-sm-3 col-sm-offset-1 blog-sidebar">
<?php if ( is_active_sidebar( 'sidebar-1' ) ) : ?>
<ul id="sidebar">
<?php dynamic_sidebar( 'sidebar-1' ); ?>
</ul>
<?php endif; ?>
</div><!-- /.blog-sidebar -->
For some reason this makes my website loop endlessly. Nothing appears, not even the header or the footer. Why does this happen ? It's 100% the wp_query part.
I tried the standard query and had an "expected statement " that probably was the cause of my issue. I'm trying the alternate wp query code now, and I don't have any clue as to what doesn't work. Any help ? Thanks !

Answer 1

Your Code should be as follows. In your code $the_query variable is not defined. I think that's why it's not working. Also turn on WP DEBUG MODE when you are developing. So you will be able to see errors and warnings.
<?php
// the query
$query = new WP_Query( array( 'post_type' => 'actualites' ) ); ?>
<?php if ( $query->have_posts() ) : ?>
<!-- pagination here -->
<!-- the loop -->
<?php while ( $query->have_posts() ) : $query->the_post();
echo '<div class="blog-post">';
echo '<h2 class="blog-post-title">' . get_the_title() . '</h2>';
echo '<p class="the-content">' . the_content() . '</p>';
echo '</div>';
endwhile; ?>
<!-- end of the loop -->
<!-- pagination here -->
<?php wp_reset_postdata(); ?>
<?php else : ?>
<p><?php esc_html_e( 'Désolé, aucun post ne correspond à votre requête.' ); ?></p>
<?php endif; ?>