One-third of registered Democrats believe the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump may have been staged or orchestrated by Trump himself, according to a new Morning Consult poll.
- The poll suggests that 34% of Democratic voters find it “definitely” or “probably” credible that Trump staged the shooting to better his odds ahead of Election Day. 45% of Democrats say the conspiracy theory is not credible.
- In comparison, a 2021 poll that was widely circulated in mainstream media found only 23% of Republicans believed in “QAnon” conspiracies, an equally baseless idea. Other reports were widely used to paint Republicans as “more susceptible” to conspiracies and “fake news” than registered Independents or Democrats.
- The phenomena of Democrat leftists subscribing to mis/disinformation is being labeled as “BlueAnon” or “BlueMAGA” and highlights a growing polarization and distrust in American politics.
Compare these numbers to the figures reported in the 2021 QAnon poll that every mainstream outlet breathlessly supported
— Andrew Kerr (@AndrewKerrNC) July 18, 2024
23 percent of Republican voters believed in QAnon = blanket media coverage
34 percent of registered Democrats believe BlueAnon nonsense = media blackout. pic.twitter.com/0XOlzXy3HP
Behind the spread: Mainstream media hosts and leftist social media influencers are widely believed to be behind the recent wave of conspiracy-laden rhetoric among the left.
- Democratic activists and liberal media commentators have fueled speculation about the event’s authenticity, with some questioning the nature of Trump’s ear injury and the Secret Service’s response.
- Dmitri Mehlhorn—an ally of the Biden Campaign—suggested the shooting was a “false-flag operation” to propel Trump in the polls and ultimately win the election. He has also uncritically blamed Russia and foreign interference to “give Trump a good photo opportunity.”
- Some have even suggested the entire shooting was fake despite multiple casualties, including the death of 50-year-old firefighter Corey Comperatore, a rally-goer who shielded his family from gunfire.
Why it’s important: While the mainstream media has tied conspiracy theories and online disinformation exclusively to the so-called “far-right” for years, the recent increase of conspiratorial rhetoric among the far-left proves it can take root across the political spectrum.
- Evidence of this could be seen with the recent leftist drive to fearmonger over the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 Transition Plan, which they falsely believe Trump will use to crush civil liberties and reverse gay marriage.
- Trump has disavowed Project 2025 numerous times, however, yet the plan is still being used as a boogeyman to motivate leftists to the polls.
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