'Deep state runs deep': Wild conspiracy theories abound as MAGA reacts to shooting threat
Former President Donald Trump in Phoenix on June 6, 2024 (Gage Skidmore)
September 17, 2024
After Donald Trump survived a second apparent assassination attempt while playing golf in Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday, the FBI launched an investigation into the suspect: North Carolina resident Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who now faces federal gun charges.
A U.S. Secret Service agent, according to reports, spotted Routh pointing a gun through a fence near where Trump was golfing.
FBI agents are looking for possible motives, and Routh appears to be a "lone wolf" rather than part of an organized group.
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But far-right conspiracy theorists, according to The Guardian's Rachel Leingang, have been quick to push unsubstantiated claims about the September 15 incident.
"Questions surrounding how Routh knew Trump would be golfing that day, given that the round wasn’t on a public schedule, led some to suggest that those tasked with protecting the president could be in on the attempt," Leingang observes.
"The former president praised the Secret Service in the aftermath of the apparent thwarted shooting."
Leingang continues, "Another conspiracy theory claimed Routh appeared in a video for the investment firm BlackRock. The video footage circulated along with the claim shows him at a protest in Ukraine, though the video is unaffiliated with the firm, the company said, adding that Routh 'has never been an employee of BlackRock nor has he appeared in any BlackRock ads.'
“The theory attempted to tie Routh to Thomas Crooks, the shooter in the first assassination attempt against Trump in July, who did appear in a BlackRock commercial when he was a student at Bethel Park high school in Pennsylvania."
Far-right MAGA activist Laura Loomer, a 9/11 truther, implied that Routh's actions had a Ukraine connection and a CIA connection.
On X, Loomer posted, "Now we see Ryan Routh, who tried to assassinate President Trump today at his West Palm Beach, FL golf club, was profiled by the New York Times @nytimes in 2023 and worked with the US foreign Legion in Ukraine, which has ties to the CIA. The DEEP STATE runs Deep!"
Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk, another far-right MAGA Republican, tweeted, "What are the odds that this shooter, who spent months fighting in Ukraine, has zero links to anyone in US military or intelligence circles? Find them."
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Read The Guardian's full article at this link.