In the immediate aftermath of the Saturday night shooting at a Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a deluge of conspiracy theories and unverified claims flooded social media. Law enforcement officials have launched an investigation into what they are treating as a possible assassination attempt, but the lack of concrete details has not stopped rampant speculation.
Within minutes of the incident, social media platforms were awash with theories from both ends of the political spectrum. Some left-leaning accounts suggested the shooting was a “false flag” operation orchestrated by Trump supporters, while far-right voices accused President Biden of ordering the attack. Representative Mike Collins (R-Ga.) posted on X that “Joe Biden sent the orders,” a claim that quickly garnered millions of views. He later called for Biden to face charges for “inciting an assassination.”
Megan Squire, deputy director for data analytics at the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project, noted that incidents of political violence often give rise to conspiracy theories and false narratives. “This incident is no different, with people concocting ‘false flag’ conspiracies and even blaming innocent people for either committing this crime or inspiring it,” she told The Washington Post.
The political climate, where Americans increasingly live in alternate realities, only exacerbates the spread of misinformation. Right-wing social media influencers and elected Republicans were quick to insinuate that powerful figures were behind the attempt. A TikTok user with over a million followers suggested that the left resorted to violence because legal avenues were failing. An anonymous conspiracy theorist account on X claimed, “The Deep State tried to assassinate Donald Trump live on television,” a post that received over a million views.
Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), whom Trump has mentioned as a potential running mate, stated that the attempt was “aided and abetted by the radical Left and corporate media.” Nicole Shanahan, the running mate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., blamed the “DNC and legacy media” for inciting hysteria that led to the violence. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X that Democrats have “wanted Trump gone for years and they’re prepared to do anything to make that happen.”
The term “staged” trended on X as people speculated that the scene was fabricated, with thousands retweeting claims that the shots came from a BB gun. Misinformation experts urged the public to refrain from sharing unconfirmed information. Graham Brookie, the Atlantic Council’s vice president for technology programs and strategy, advised, “Please exercise empathy and caution as events unfold.”
Far-right channels on encrypted platforms buzzed with shock, rage, and conspiracy theories. Triumphant slogans and calls for civil war accompanied images of a bloodied but defiant Trump. Without clear word from authorities on suspects or motives, MAGA extremists quickly embraced the idea of a politically motivated assassination attempt. Disinformation swirled as trolls shared uncorroborated footage and information about alleged assailants.
Some blamed militant antifascists, while others concocted elaborate explanations involving the Deep State and demons. Several white supremacist accounts discussed how Jews had attempted to assassinate Trump. Jackson Lahmeyer, head of the far-right Pastors for Trump group, wrote in an email to subscribers, “They want a CIVIL WAR. We MUST WIN.”
Conservative influencer Laura Loomer and radio host Erick Erickson blamed Biden for the shooting, citing his recent comments about putting Trump “in a bull’s eye.” The right-wing account Il Donaldo Trumpo posted a photo of John F. Kennedy from the day he was assassinated with the caption, “NOT TODAY, DEEP STATE!!!”
Internet platforms often struggle to contain viral misinformation about catastrophic events soon after they happen. Katie Harbath, a former Facebook public policy director, noted that breaking news situations are the hardest for platforms to moderate as facts are still emerging. She suggested that platforms might be fielding requests from law enforcement for information and looking at images of the shooting to see if any violate company standards against gruesome content.
As more details about the shooter emerged, identifying a man perched on a rooftop outside the rally, Elon Musk posted that either the Secret Service suffered from “extreme incompetence” or “it was deliberate.” Paul Penzone, former sheriff of Arizona’s Maricopa County, emphasized that false theories and misinformation significantly affect public emotion and perspective, ultimately harming civil discourse.
In the wake of the shooting, the need for clarity and caution is paramount. While facts alone may not defeat conspiracy theories, they are essential for understanding what happened and promoting political stability.