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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surround by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally after an ‘assassination’ attempt. (AP)
A viral video of the Trump assassination attempt has sparked widespread conspiracy theories on social media, with claims ranging from the event being “staged” to accusations against prominent figures
A viral video reportedly showing the suspect crawling on a rooftop during the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has fueled a surge in conspiracy theories online.
The footage, which has gone viral on X, depicts 20-year-old shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks on a roof near Trump’s stage in Butler, Pennsylvania. The video has prompted questions about the security measures in place and how Crooks managed to get so close to Trump.
Conspiracy Theories
The video and the attack quickly became the subject of widespread speculation on social media. Within minutes of the incident, the term “staged” began trending on X, as users shared unfounded theories suggesting the event was a setup. Many posts questioned the authenticity of the shooting and claimed it was staged to gain sympathy or for political gain.
BREAKING: CLEAREST VIDEO OF THOMAS MATTHEW CROOKS SHOOTING AT PRESIDENT TRUMP‼️A newly obtained video from TMZ shows the shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, firing at former President Donald Trump before being shot. In the background, a woman is heard… pic.twitter.com/UxQTwPOMIU
— Only Mob King (@OnlyMobKing) July 14, 2024
Social media platforms were flooded with posts accusing various figures of involvement without evidence. Some users suggested that the assassination attempt was a ploy orchestrated by political adversaries. Conspiracy theories also connected the event to broader, baseless claims involving prominent figures and secret groups.
Among the most notable was a claim that the incident was part of a larger conspiracy involving former President Barack Obama, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and former Vice President Mike Pence. These allegations, with no supporting evidence, spread rapidly, drawing millions of views before being labeled as false by fact-checkers.
Social Media
The rapid spread of misinformation on social media platforms has raised concerns about how these sites handle false information. According to a report published by BBC, many of the conspiracy theories gained traction due to the algorithms that recommend content based on user engagement.
Congressman Mike Collins from Georgia posted that President Joe Biden was somehow involved in the incident, a claim that has been widely debunked but still garnered significant attention.
The confusion surrounding the event has led to a flurry of misinformation, with some users wrongly identifying the shooter and spreading false claims about his background. The FBI has since confirmed that Thomas Matthew Crooks was the lone gunman and that he was killed by Secret Service agents.
Security Lapse
The assassination attempt has also prompted calls for better security measures and accountability. Questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the security perimeter around Trump and how the shooter managed to get close to the former president. Critics are urging a thorough investigation into the incident and the response of security agencies.
Richard Painter, a White House official under George W. Bush and now a law professor at the University of Minnesota, called for “a detailed investigation into this egregious security failure.” “If there is a rooftop within rifle range of a president or a presidential candidate, it’s the Secret Service that should be on that rooftop,” he added,
(With agency inputs)
