Copycat assassins, Russian trolls, conspiracy theorists, and misogynists take to social media after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
Just moments after the attempted assassination of presidential candidate Donald Trump, misinformation and speculation surfaced across popular social media platforms like X, with people claiming that President Joe Biden was behind the attack, along with other wild insinuations.
The incident occurred when a 20-year-old man by the name of Thomas Matthew Crooks allegedly took a shot at Trump that just grazed the 45th US president's ear. The Secret Service shot Crooks dead at the scene.
After the attempt, tech moguls spoke out, with people like Elon Musk saying that they “fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”
I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery pic.twitter.com/ZdxkF63EqF
undefined Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2024
This post alone, which has been seen almost 200 million times, boosted conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination, Wired said.
Since the event, an increase in misinformation and disinformation has been observed online. Cybersecurity experts and authorities warn that this is likely to proliferate as the investigation continues.
One of the wilder forms of disinformation that has been spreading across social is that the shooter who made the attempt on Trump’s life isn’t actually dead.
Instead, copycat accounts posing as “assassins” post on social media platforms like X and Instagram.
Somehow I'm following someone claiming to be Thomas Matthew Crooks on Insta. I have no idea who it really is. #trumpshooter #thomasmatthewcrooks pic.twitter.com/AbqEfZsOB8
undefined Edgar (@nObOdYe76) July 14, 2024
One video re-uploaded to X shows a man saying: "My name is Thomas Matthew Crooks. I hate Republicans. I hate Trump. And guess what, you’ve got the wrong guy," Data Breach Today found.
🇺🇸 The man who tried to murder Donald Trump posted this video: “My name is Thomas Matthew Crooks. I hate Republicans. I hate Trump.”#Trump #Trump2024 #shooter #TrumpShot pic.twitter.com/LWfyLU5tyg
undefined NATO🇺🇸 🆚 KREMLIN🇷🇺 (@eduinfotech101) July 14, 2024
Other conspiracy theories claim that the whole situation was set up, as one X user said that the scene “looks very staged. Sounded like a BB gun. Nobody in the crowd is running or panicking.”
It looks very staged. Sounded like a BB gun. Nobody in the crowd is running or panicking.
undefined 𝓙𝓪𝓷𝓮 É𝓲𝓻𝓮 (@cyberfrontier) July 13, 2024
Nobody in that crowd heard an actual gun.
I don’t trust it. I don’t trust him. 🤷🏼♀️ pic.twitter.com/b1Bkruyq2g
Some people, including Mike Collins, a representative from Georgia, said that “Joe Biden sent the orders,” Data Breach Today found.
Joe Biden sent the orders. https://t.co/pOc0XLxCwg
undefined Mike Collins (@MikeCollinsGA) July 13, 2024
Information speculating that Ukraine is behind the attack surfaced on X as a picture of multiple missiles appeared on the platform with phrases like “For Trump” written on them in Russian.
Guess who Russia is blaming for the failed assassination attempt on former president Trump?
undefined Aktiediplomaten (@Aktiediplomaten) July 14, 2024
That’s right.
As always, Ukraine.
They’ve written “For Trump” and “For Trumps ear” on bombs this morning. pic.twitter.com/szBHHgfJI2
While more conspiracy theories spread, biases also spread as blatant misogyny can be seen across Musk’s X. Various users have said that they don’t believe women should be Secret Service agents due to their inability as a gender to holster their weapons and are too concerned about putting on their sunglasses.
This looks like the FBI and secret service tried to get him killed! Trump is 6'3undefined his detail should be composed of enormous strong MEN who can actually shield him-- even carry him out if need be. Not small, frantic women! pic.twitter.com/OmrDmiYE2d
undefined Tex-Mex Trumpian (@TexicanTrumpian) July 14, 2024
Cybersecurity specialists and authorities warn that misinformation and disinformation campaigns will continue to spread across the internet, with Russian troll farms, copycat killers, and conspiracy theorists at the top of the list.
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