Trump's assassination attempt breeds a feeding frenzy of online conspiracy theories
Immediate information from credible sources - not social media - is the antidote to a volatile political climate.
Hot takes, those immediate thoughts that people share as history gets made, key ingredients still TBD, is causing me to rethink this newsletter’s title because the hot takes following last weekend’s events are truly unhinged. Thanks, social media.
On Saturday we saw a 20-year-old man attempt to assassinate Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. Television cameras and cellphone video showed us all what happened, but what it failed to show or explain, in the moment, was the why and the how. Motivation? Was he a lone wolf? Where exactly did law enforcement fail? To what extent was Trump injured? You know, facts.
We do know a Trump supporter was killed, two others seriously injured, the gunman shot and killed by the United States Secret Service, and Trump’s right ear grazed – injury extent still unknown. At the Republican National Convention that got under Monday in Milwaukee where Trump was officially declared the Republican candidate for president, he appeared physically well, other than sporting a large piece of gauze on his right ear. Weirdly - really weirdly - devout Trumpers followed suit, donning their own version of a bandage in “solidarity.” Neither Trump, nor the party, nor police, nor doctors have said anything official about the extent of his injuries.
If this assassination attempt had occurred while Trump were president, precedent dictates that full disclosure of his injuries would be immediate, as it’s about the office now, not the person. The public demand, and rightly so, the physical health status of their president (mental acuity is a whole other matter), the commander-in-chief, the holder of nuke codes. At this moment, Trump’s just a candidate and former president, though his ongoing protection is being paid for by the American taxpayer, so some transparency is in order.
I’m dubious that a second Trump White House would be any more forthcoming about his injuries given Trump’s strained relationship with the truth — he’s a serial liar, after all. Also, any appearance of real or imagined weakness is pure kryptonite to Trump.
Then there’s the Secret Service, who are beginning to take their name far too literally. Almost a week now and no one from that agency has held a media availability, which has only allowed conspiracy theorists to go full grassy knoll.
Social media can be a cesspool of nonsense in the aftermath of major events despite hundreds of millions of people witnessing the same thing. The refusal by people on the extreme right (mostly) to pay attention to real journalism, preferring instead the ravings of trolls sitting in dank basements covered in Dorito dust, boggles the mind. The Secret Service addressing some key questions would go a long way to turning down the temperature.
Then there are those who viscerally hate Trump, stupidly taking to X/Twitter or Facebook to express their disappointment that the gunman failed. That’s one way to get cancelled in 2024. A riddle: what did the reasonable person post on social media following news of Trump’s attempted assassination? Answer: nothing.
As a public service, here’s a smattering of some of the more popular conspiracy theories floated immediately following the assassination attempt (in case your algorithm needs a nudge):
It was all staged to garner sympathy and more support for Trump, the bloodied
ear being nothing more than Hollywood special FX makeup or ketchup
the Secret Service paused on stage to allow for Trump’s now-iconic photo to be captured while they moved far too slowly to get him into a waiting SUV
the Secret Service’s hiring of women under diversity quotas meant Trump was inadequately protected – even purposely so – due to women in their ranks (seriously)
finally, it was all orchestrated by President Joe Biden and the Democrats to eliminate their opponent
The problem with any conspiracy theory is always the lack of evidence. That, and the number of people needed to be in on a conspiracy, especially one as vast and consequential as this, relying on all to remain shtum forever.
Biden has implored the public from across the spectrum to tone down the rhetoric, which doesn’t mean halting political attacks and making clear, for example, that Felonious Trump is wholly unfit to be president. Just be mindful that words matter.
Then there’s Pierre Poilievre, the Canadian Conservative Party leader and possibly Canada’s next prime minister, who tweeted on Saturday, “I am also happy that the suspected shooter is dead.” A future PM’s approach to justice is to kill first, ask questions later? Surely a mistweet, though being “happy” someone is dead is a weird flex, as the kids might say. Full marks for transparency in the name of pandering, I suppose.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, the Secret Service are avoiding scrutiny via the press under the guise of an investigation. This is unacceptable. This investigation will take time - a long time - but those of us who practice crisis comms know that a lack of any communication and accountability by leadership in the midst of a crisis of this level is fuel on a wild fire of speculation. And in this current political climate – here, there and everywhere – that’s just plain dangerous.