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Trump assassination attempt sparks new wave of unfounded conspiracy theories
Fact-checkers found no evidence the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting was staged, even as the false claim drew millions of views online.
- On Saturday, April 25, suspect Cole Thomas Allen rushed security at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents Dinner, facing charges of attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.
- Following the attack, conspiracy theories claiming the incident was 'staged' spread rapidly across social media, with the term appearing in more than 300,000 posts on X by Sunday despite authorities stating Allen acted alone.
- Misinformation intensified as social media users circulated AI-enhanced footage; Seth Weathers admitted the AI 'made up some things to fill in the gaps,' misleading viewers about security checkpoint events.
- President Donald Trump fueled speculation by claiming a $400 million White House ballroom was crucial for safety, leading critics to allege he exploited the shooting to advance his longtime project.
- The Washington Post reported Wednesday that video evidence shows 'no indication' Allen fired his weapon, even as prosecutors continue charging him with discharging a firearm during a crime.
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Trump couldn’t have staged the shooting because he’s too dumb: Bush advisor
Ever since an alleged assassin fired a gun during the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday, conspiracy theorists have claimed the whole event was staged. Yet as one conservative critic of Trump pointed out, the president simply isn’t bright enough to orchestrate a plot that sophisticated.“T...
·Washington, United States
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Conspiracy theories on correspondents’ dinner shooting are a symptom of something bigger and worse
Experts say conspiracy theories are surging after major political events due to eroding trust in institutions, misinformation and a growing threat to democracy.
·Washington, United States
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Total News Sources168
Leaning Left46Leaning Right30Center60Last UpdatedBias Distribution44% Center
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources are Center
44% Center
L 34%
C 44%
R 22%
Factuality
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