Sick social media trolls claim Trump shooting was fake after ex-prez narrowly escapes assassination attempt
Almost immediately after former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, trolls took to social media with wild claims that the shooting was “staged.”
On X, conspiracy theorists dismissed the deadly attempt on Trump’s life as a stunt to boost his campaign.
After “Trump,” the word “staged” was the number two top trending topic on the app in the wake of the shooting.
“Trump getting shot was completely staged,” wrote one user. “He wouldn’t stop looking in that direction. Obviously someone who could make that shot wouldn’t miss if they were intending to kill him. Then he got up and raised his hand. He would have sh-t his pants if this was real.”
Trump suffered a graze wound to the ear after a sniper opened fire while he was speaking at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. on Saturday night, law enforcement sources said.
The ex-president escaped safely but one rally-goer was killed and another was severely injured.
After Trump was injured, he threw his fist in the air towards the crowd as Secret Service agents and local law enforcement tried to rush him off the stage. The image, being touted as “iconic” by his supporters, seemed too good to be true for some trolls and doubters.
“This is such a perfect photo it’s hard to believe it is not staged. Photo of the decade. Absolutely incredible,” one person tweeted.
One user posted a photo of red blood streaking down Trump’s face and suggested it may have been a “paintball attack.”
Another claimed that Trump “bladed” — a professional wrestling term referring to purposefully cutting oneself for effect — when Secret Service agents tackled him for cover. They called the shooting part of a “WWE ass script.”
Here’s the latest on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump:
Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks visited gun range dozens of times — including Christmas — for ‘intense preparation’- Newly surfaced texts show Trump rally gunman was on authorities’ radar more than 90 minutes before shooting: report
- FBI to conduct victim interview with Donald Trump after assassination attempt
- Ex-Trump doc says FBI’s Wray is ‘wrong’ to doubt ex-prez was struck by bullet: ‘Absolutely no evidence’
- Trump defends female Secret Service agent who was criticized after assassination attempt: ‘So brave’
“No way they missed with that many shots and just nicked his ear? And then the fist pump and all the pictures of him with the flag. This is propaganda,” wrote another user.
“It’s so over,” one woman said. “Whether this is staged or not, Trump is going to receive a massive political boost after this in a time when Democrats are in complete & utter calamity.”
Far Right-wing commentator Tim Pool blasted those who called the shooting a hoax.
“‘Staged’ is trending,” he said. “They scream Trump is Hitler, they riot and destroy, then they claim their attacks are staged.”
The word “delete” was also trending in the aftermath of the shooting, with users calling on the conspiracy theorists and Democrat politicians to take down their tweets about the shooting.
Trump, who was rushed to a local hospital for treatment, confirmed that he is safe and well.
“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” he said in a statement. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized ten what was happening.”
The Secret Service’s assault team killed the gunman.