Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
On July 14, 2024, at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt that left one dead and another injured. The event has sparked widespread speculation and conspiracy theories.
The shooter, Thomas Mathew Crook, was swiftly apprehended by law enforcement following the incident. However, the circumstances surrounding the attack have fueled various conspiracy theories across online platforms.
One prominent theory suggests the Biden administration orchestrated the assassination attempt, citing President Biden's previous criticisms of Trump. Supporters argue Biden's rhetoric created a hostile environment conducive to such an attack.
Speculations also point towards CIA involvement, drawing parallels to historical events like the JFK assassination. Conspiracy theorists allege the CIA may have been behind the attack, though no concrete evidence supports this claim.
Eyewitness reports allege warnings about a suspicious individual with a rifle on a nearby roof were disregarded by police and Secret Service personnel. This has raised questions about security lapses prior to the shooting.
Criticism has surfaced regarding the security response, with claims that alerts about the shooter's presence went unheeded by law enforcement officials present at the rally. One X user also suggested that Thomas was right in the sight of the Secret Service snipers, however, they failed to react on time.
Another theory proposes the incident was a "false flag" operation orchestrated by Trump's own campaign team to portray him as a heroic figure. This theory gained traction online shortly after the shooting.
While the Secret Service and FBI are actively investigating the incident, specific claims about security failures and conspiracy allegations have not been officially confirmed or addressed. Many X users also claim that since Biden has weaponised the DOJ and other government agencies against Trump, this could be a possible insider's job.
The proliferation of conspiracy theories underscores deep political divisions in the United States, with some factions blaming the incident on political adversaries. The incident has heightened tensions in an already polarized environment.