After a second apparent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, right-wing media figures responded by pushing unhinged conspiracy theories about potential involvement of the "deep state” or the Ukrainian government, while others suggested the would-be gunman was “a CIA asset.”
Andrea Austria / Media Matters
Research/Study
Right-wing media figures push bizarre conspiracy theories following a second apparent assassination attempt against Trump
Written by Jack Winstanley
Published
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A second apparent attempt to assassinate Trump was foiled on September 15
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- On September 15, Trump was the target of a second apparent assassination attempt while golfing in Florida. The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, was spotted by Secret Service service agents, who then opened fire, and he was later arrested after fleeing the scene. According to a Secret Service official, Routh “did not fire or get off any shots at our agent” and did not have a view of Trump. [The Associated Press, 9/16/24; CBS News, 9/16/24]
- Prior to the alleged assassination attempt, Routh had seemingly offered support for the Ukrainian war effort and authored a book urging the Iranian government to assassinate Trump. Routh reportedly attempted to recruit fighters to aid in Ukraine’s defense after Russia invaded in 2022, claiming that he had raised “5,900 Afghan soldiers” to support the Ukrainian war effort, and had appeared at protests in Kyiv. Routh also self-published a 2023 book in which he stated that Iran was “free to assassinate Trump” for withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal. [The Associated Press, 9/16/24; The Daily Beast, 9/16/24; The New York Times, 9/17/24]
- After the failed July 13 assassination attempt against Trump in Pennsylvania, right-wing media figures similarly pushed unhinged conspiracy theories blaming President Joe Biden or the “deep state” for the shooting. A number of right-wing media figures claimed that there was a connection between the attempt on Trump’s life and Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential campaign. Others pushed wild claims that “the deep state” or intelligence agencies were responsible, or suggested that the Soros family was somehow connected to the shooting. [Media Matters, 7/16/24, 7/21/24]
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Right-wing media figures attempted to connect the would-be assassin to U.S. intelligence agencies, foreign actors, and the “deep state”
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- Infowars host Alex Jones claimed in a social media post that “Trumps would be assassin is a confirmed CIA deep state asset.” In a second social media post, Jones declared that “Ryan Routh is a total NATO/CIA asset and was told where to be today to kill Trump.” [Twitter/X, 9/15/24, 9/15/24]
- National Pulse Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam posted that Routh “looks like a CIA asset.” His post was in response to an X thread discussing Routh’s supposed connections to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. [Twitter/X, 9/15/24]
- Right-wing social media figures Keith and Kevin Hodge, known online as “Hodgetwins,” stated, “So a CIA asset is who tried to assassinate Trump today.” [Twitter/X, 9/15/24]
- Candace Owens stated that “everything about this shooter’s background reeks of a criminal-turned-Federal asset in prison.” She added: “Convicted for weapons of mass destruction and then years later trying to recruit Americans to the war in Ukraine? Asset.” [Twitter/X, 9/15/24]
- Newsmax host Greg Kelly suggested “that the government has, essentially, authorized” an assassination against Trump. He argued that calling Trump and his allies “a clear and present danger to American democracy” means “they can suspend portions of the Constitution to deal with the threat.” [Newsmax, Greg Kelly Reports, 9/16/24]
- Far-right podcaster Brendan Dilley falsely claimed that Routh appeared in a BlackRock commercial, saying: “We're now two for two with people who tried to assassinate President Trump, also appearing in BlackRock commercials prior to doing so. There is zero chance of coincidence.” The video shows Routh at a pro-Ukraine rally and is not a BlackRock commercial. [Twitter/X, 9/16/24, 5/1/22; USA Today, 9/17/24]
- Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk wrote, “What are the odds that this shooter, who spent months fighting in Ukraine, has zero links to anyone in US military or intelligence circles?” [Twitter/X, 9/15/24]
- The Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles asked whether “the deep state” or Ukraine were “trying to assassinate Trump,” adding, “We don’t know.” Later in his show, Knowles speculated on the timing of both assassination attempts, stating: “I don’t think we have any debates left, which might be good for Trump since these shootings occur after the debates where the Democrats don’t win.” [The Daily Wire, The Michael Knowles Show, 9/16/24, 9/16/24]
- A post on Gab from the far-right forum TheDonald's account claimed: “It’s clear at this point that there is a CIA operative embedded with President Trump’s security detail who is activating assets when there is an opportunity to take him out.” [Gab, accessed 9/16/24]