Within minutes of the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, a wave of false claims and conspiracy theories flooded social media, reflecting the polarized political climate in the United States. According to PeakMetrics, mentions of Trump on social media increased by up to 17 times the average daily amount in the hours after the shooting. Many of these mentions expressed sympathy or called for unity, but others propagated unfounded claims, such as attributing the attack to various groups including the Chinese, Antifa, or the Biden Administration.
The Secret Service quickly denied claims that Trump's campaign had requested increased security and been denied. Federal agency spokesman Anthony Guglielmi stated, 'We added resources, technology, and protection capabilities as part of increasing the pace of campaign travel.' Despite these assurances, videos and images of the attack were dissected in partisan circles, fueling further speculation.
President Joe Biden has ordered an independent investigation into the security process surrounding the attack. In a White House speech, Biden emphasized that Trump had received the highest level of security as a former president and Republican presidential candidate. He urged the public to refrain from making hasty speculations about the motive for the crime or security lapses.
The incident has also drawn international attention, with Russian President Vladimir Putin commenting on the atmosphere of violence in American politics. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggested that the current U.S. administration's political climate may have provoked the attack, though he did not directly blame the Biden administration.
The attack has intensified the political debate in the U.S., with some Republicans blaming Biden for creating a toxic environment through his criticism of Trump. Biden's comments and Trump's previous incendiary rhetoric have both been scrutinized for potentially inciting violence. Political scientists like Sean Westwood warn that such incidents could lead to further escalation and violence.
The assassination attempt has also impacted the political landscape, with prediction markets showing fluctuating probabilities for Biden and Trump in the upcoming presidential election. Biden continues to face challenges regarding his age and mental acuity, but he has reaffirmed his commitment to running for re-election. Meanwhile, Trump's supporters view him as a martyr, potentially bolstering his candidacy.
