It was only a matter of time before there was an attempt on his life in America, the third in less than two years.
At the same time, instead of rallying and settlement, the divisive and sick climate flares up. The American president for incitement to violence because two days before the attack he said that she “shine like a future widow”, but leaves the White House representative Caroline Leavitt unarmed who with a humorous remark “prophesied” the attempt against her boss a few hours before it happened.
The most widely held conspiracy theory is that it was a “staged” attack to boost Trump’s popularity, which is at a nadir amid the war in Iran, disorient public opinion, rally his supporters and identify his opponents with extremism. Fraudsters are widely disseminated and accepted first of all at the base of the MAGA movement which lives and breathes through conspiracy theory. By midday Sunday, less than 12 hours after the attack on Trump, the term “rigged” appeared in more than 300,000 posts on X, the New York Times reported, citing data from analytics firm TweetBinder.
The “prophecy” of Trump’s spokeswoman
The White House spokeswoman also unwittingly fueled the conspiracy theory. A few hours before the attempt on Trump’s life at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, Caroline Leavitt told Fox News that the president’s speech at the customary reception of the White House Correspondents’ Association would be special, that it would include many “bites” for journalists. Speaking online from the hotel, Trump’s spokeswoman had the unfortunate inspiration to use the expression “there will be some shots fired tonight”.
It was clear that Leavitt was preparing the audience for Trump to lash out and thunder at reporters at this event, where the nails are traditionally given and taken, in an exercise in balancing humor, sarcasm and political criticism.
On hearing the phrase “there will be some shots fired tonight” the host of the show, comedian Jimmy Failla, burst out laughing. “Everybody’s going to have to tune (the receivers),” Leavitt added with a laugh. No one expected that the dinner would turn into a gunfight – fortunately without victims -, that at that time a 31-year-old American from California was preparing to rush into the reception to kill the president and members of his administration, that near the same point where Leavitt was giving the interview, the security men would knock down and disarm the would-be assassin.
who said the attack showed how necessary the “large and secure” banquet hall he is building at the White House is.
Kimmel’s political satire
Last Thursday night, on his ABC satirical show, Kimmel played host to Saturday’s reception. Kimmel first addressed Melania Trump as a “widow-to-be,” then took aim at President Trump (who had posted a photo of himself as Jesus a few days ago and then explained that he wasn’t wearing a robe, but a medical gown). “In case the president has a medical emergency, do we have a doctor in house?” Oh sorry, I mean do we have Jesus in the house? I always get these mixed up, too,” Kimmel said.
“This monologue about my family is not a comedy. People like Kimmel should not have the opportunity to come into our homes every night and spread hate,” Melania Trump said yesterday. Late at night, her husband and US president demanded that Disney and ABC “immediately fire” Kimmel.
The “incomplete” security measures
The agents of the Secret Service neutralized the threat, but the security measures were insufficient because the perpetrator – who was a tenant of the hotel – approached the reception room while 10 seconds passed. Outside there was a security perimeter but inside the hotel there were gaps, many analysts argue with valid arguments. Some say security first removed Vice President Jay D. Vance and then President Trump. But the president was in the center of the table and the vice president was at the edge.
The climate at MAGA’s base was fertile for conspiracy theory. Lately, former supporters of the president, including podcaster Joe Rogan, former FOX TV host Carlson Tucker, and former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor
Greens systematically cultivated the idea that the attack on Trump at the 2024 Pennsylvania campaign rally was staged in order to boost his image and ratings. The “something they are hiding from us” about the Butler, Pennsylvania attempt evolves into “what they are also hiding from us about the Washington Hilton attempt.”
The perpetrator’s shirt
Despite the explanations given by the authorities and the publication of the perpetrator’s manifesto, conspiracy theorists insist that the attack is not the result of a series of coincidences and omissions. They raise questions about the “true identity” and “true motives” of the arrested. They cite, among other things, an earlier photo of Cole Thomas Allen, who appears to be wearing a sweatshirt with the Israeli army (IDF) insignia. The emblem is partially visible, it is possible that it was added with photoshop, while it is very possible that the entire photo is a product of artificial intelligence. The origin of the particular photo that circulated on the Internet remains unknown, while those who spread it see an “Israeli finger” behind the attempt against Trump.
