Since the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump, a myriad of conspiracy theories have emerged, particularly on social media platforms. Some suggest that Trump himself staged the attack to gain sympathy and boost his chances in the upcoming election. Security expert Malte Roschinski, however, debunks these theories, labeling them as absurd from a technical standpoint. He emphasizes that the errors made by the Secret Service could have easily led to Trump's death, which they would never risk.
On July 13, during a campaign event in Pennsylvania, Trump was shot in the ear by a 20-year-old man who was subsequently killed by security forces. The FBI has confirmed that the shooter acted alone and used a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle. Despite the clear evidence of an assassination attempt, conspiracy theories continue to proliferate, with some claiming that the Secret Service's mistakes were intentional.
Roschinski provides two main reasons why the assassination attempt could not have been staged. Firstly, the errors made by the Secret Service were too significant and could have resulted in Trump's death, which contradicts the idea of a staged event. Secondly, a lack of understanding of ballistics and physics among the general public allows such theories to spread. The precision required to shoot someone's ear from a distance of 120 meters is nearly impossible, even under optimal conditions.
In the aftermath of the incident, various conspiracy theories have gained traction, including claims that the shooter was acting on orders from President Joe Biden or that the attack was orchestrated to make Trump appear as a hero. These theories have been fueled by images and videos circulating on social media, often taken out of context or misinterpreted.
Democratic circles have also been quick to denounce the incident as a sham, with some suggesting that the blood on Trump's face was fake and that the event was orchestrated by his own protection service. This has led to a collective hysteria, reminiscent of past high-profile assassination attempts like those on John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.
On Truth Social, the social network owned by Trump, messages glorifying him and promoting conspiracy theories have flourished. The platform has become a haven for 'MAGA' supporters who view Trump as a guru. Hashtags like '#TrumpAssassinationAttempt' and '#FBI' have trended, with many users sharing images and memes portraying Trump as blessed by God.
Some users have even pointed fingers at Joe Biden and the Democrats, accusing them of failing to provide adequate protection for Trump and inciting violence against him. These claims are often baseless and lack substantial evidence but continue to thrive on social media.
The rapid spread of conspiracy theories following the assassination attempt highlights the role of social media in amplifying unverified claims. Within an hour of the incident, the term 'staged' had become a leading search term on platforms like X and Reddit. Various netizens have pointed out random details in videos to support their theories, further muddying the waters of public discourse.
- The FBI has confirmed that the shooter acted alone, using a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle. Despite clear evidence, conspiracy theories continue to proliferate.
- Roschinski debunks the theories, emphasizing that the errors made by the Secret Service could have easily led to Trump's death, which they would never risk.
- Truth Social, Trump's own social network, has become a hub for 'MAGA' supporters who view Trump as a guru. Hashtags like '#TrumpAssassinationAttempt' have trended, with many users sharing images portraying Trump as blessed by God.
