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Molly Butler/Media Matters | Biden photo: Gage Skidmore, Creative Commons

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Biden suspended his campaign and right-wing media responded with conspiracy theories

Conservatives demanded proof the president was still alive, claimed Biden was a “hostage” in a “soft coup,” and even suggested his decision was part of an “inside job” to assassinate Trump

Written by Jack Winstanley

Published

Following President Joe Biden’s announcement that he was suspending his 2024 reelection campaign, right-wing media figures pushed wild conspiracy theories alleging that the president did not make the decision himself or that it was a backup plan to defeat Donald Trump after the failed assassination attempt against the former president. Conservative media figures repeatedly asked for “proof of life,” claimed Biden was being held “hostage,” and even suggested that Biden's withdrawal letter was forged. 

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  • President Joe Biden suspended his reelection campaign

    • On June 21, Biden announced that he would no longer seek reelection and would serve out the remainder of his term. Shortly after sharing a letter announcing that he was dropping out of the race, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee. [NBC News, 7/21/24]
    • Biden gave an Oval Office Address about his decision to end his reelection campaign on July 24 — his first public address since announcing the decision while recovering from COVID-19. Biden returned to the White House on July 23 after spending time recovering at his residence in Delaware. News of the president's illness added fuel to the ongoing conversation about his age and fitness for office. [NPR, 7/24/24; The Associated Press, 7/22/24; CNN, 7/18/24]

  • Right-wing media figures speculated that the withdrawal letter signaled that Biden had actually died

    • On Infowars, Alex Jones asked, “Did they kill Biden?” after showing a printed copy of Biden's announcement letter. He added that “that’s a very serious question in this climate that you’ve got to ask,” then likened the situation to the movie Weekend at Bernie’s. [Infowars, The Alex Jones Show, 7/22/24]
    • The following day, Jones doubled down and claimed that Biden was “basically being held inside that Delaware encampment while the deep state goes around and secures who’ll be in what position.” He also stated that Biden “sounded like he’s on death’s doorstep, and/or it was AI or something,” while calling into an event after contracting COVID and that “most people think he’s dead.” [Infowars, The Alex Jones Show, 7/23/24]
    • Fox News anchor Dana Perino asked for “proof of life” while discussing Biden’s withdrawal. She explained, “You can forgive people for wondering if we are living Weekend at Bernie's right now.” [Fox News, Fox News Central, 7/21/24]
    • Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk asked, “Can we get a proof of life of Joe Biden?” while reacting to the announcement of his withdrawal. Kirk went on to imply that Biden was removed from the campaign, calling the situation a “soft coup.” [Real America’s Voice, The Charlie Kirk Show, 7/22/24]
    • Following Biden’s announcement, conspiracy theorist Stew Peters posted videos of the president at public events, adding, “The real question is how long has Joe Biden been dead?” [Twitter/X, 7/22/24; Media Matters, 3/13/23]
    • Sean Davis, CEO and co-founder of conservative outlet The Federalist, commented that Biden has “made no public appearance” since he dropped out of the race, adding, “Also: do we have any evidence Biden is even alive right now?” His post then claimed, “This is banana republic insanity.” [Twitter/X, 7/21/24]
    • Former Trump lawyer and podcast host Jenna Ellis seemingly suggested that Biden had died, stating, “Americans deserve proof of life for our current President.” [Twitter/X, 7/22/24]
    • Pro-Trump lawyer Harmeet Dillon asked in a social media post, “Would anyone else here like to know the whereabouts and current health status of President Biden?” [Twitter/X, 7/21/24]
    • An article by The Federalist stated that Biden “is supposedly dealing with a Covid infection, has yet to be seen alive.” The article added, “If Joe Biden is coherent enough to govern a global superpower for another six months, he can tell Americans about his decision to their faces.” [The Federalist, 7/22/24]

  • Some right-wing media figures claimed that Biden's withdrawal letter was forged or even evidence of a “coup”

    • Trump ally Laura Loomer claimed “Biden didn’t even write this letter” and postulated that “the signature is likely forged on the letter as well.” She also claimed that Democrats “are pretending to be Joe Biden whose corpse is literally rotting away inside the White House,” and that he “is too cognitively damaged to write a letter or comprehend what is going on.” [Twitter/X, 7/21/24; Media Matters, 2/1/24]
    • On his Rumble livestream, Donald Trump Jr. speculated that Biden had been pressured into dropping out of the race, asking, “What did they bribe him with? What did they promise? Or perhaps more likely, what did they threaten him with?” [Rumble, Triggered with Donald Trump Jr., 7/22/24]
    • Right-wing podcast host Benny Johnson claimed that portions of the letter showed that Biden is “a hostage right now” and that he “did not want to write this.” [YouTube, The Benny Johnson Show, 7/21/24]
    • Right-wing commentator Mike Crispi claimed of the letter that Biden “didn’t write a word of it” and “doesn’t realize what was written for him.” Crispi also claimed that Biden did not get 81 million votes in 2020, saying, “The ‘81 million votes’ lie will be the greatest scam in the history of our country.” [Twitter/X, 7/21/24; USA Today, 12/19/23]
    • Right-wing personality Alex Lorusso (known online as ALX) shared Biden’s announcement and several pictures of Biden’s signature, asking, “Can anyone find another example of Joe Biden underlining his signature?” [Twitter/X, 7/21/24; Media Matters, 11/22/22]
    • Infowars host Owen Shroyer shared a graphic comparing Biden’s signature from the announcement with a number of executive orders, noting the announcement was “blatant criminal forgery.” Shroyer also claimed that the withdrawal announcement “was a legit coup” and asked “why no word from Biden himself?” [Twitter/X, 7/22/24]
    • John Sabal (known online as “QAnon John”) claimed in a social media post that “we IN FACT lived through a COUP” and that “NEVER before has there been a time where a Sitting President steps down & leaves nothing but a note.” He also shared a graphic comparing Biden’s signature from the announcement letter with several executive orders, adding, “One more thing…Biden did NOT sign that letter.” [Gab, 7/22/24; Business Insider, 10/16/20]
    • Right-wing social media personality Amuse also cast doubt on the authenticity of the announcement, asking, “Why didn’t Biden use official stationary? Why does Biden’s signature look forged? Where is Joe?” [Twitter/X, 7/22/24]
    • Former Fox News producer Kyle Becker said the signature was “suspect” because Biden’s name was underlined and said the “letter not on official letterhead.” [Twitter/X, 7/21/24]
    • BlazeTV host Sara Gonzalez compared a previous signature from Biden with the signature on the announcement letter, adding, “Did Joe really sign this?” [Twitter/X, 7/21/24]

  • Some right-wing media figures speculated that the timing of Biden’s withdrawal indicated it was somehow connected to the attempted assassination of Trump

    • The Federalist’s Sean Davis: “Biden didn’t drop out of the race until after the attempts to imprison and assassinate Donald Trump failed. Do you think that is coincidence?” [Twitter/X, 7/21/24]
    • Replying to Biden’s announcement, Trump ally Laura Loomer stated, “Now you all see why they tried to assassinate Donald Trump. This was all planned.” [Twitter/X, 7/21/24] 
    • Loomer also claimed, “The only reason @JoeBiden is dropping out today is because his administration plotted an assassination of Donald Trump and missed.” Loomer continued: “It’s a lot easier to drop out over ‘peer pressure’ and an illness than to be forced to resign once the American people learn all about how the Biden admin plotted to put a bullet in Donald Trump’s head. This is why he dropped out the day before the Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle was supposed to testify tomorrow in front of Congress. Now the media will be distracted. The cover up of the Biden admin’s and Deep State’s plot to assassinate Donald Trump is in full swing now. We can’t let them get away with this.” [Twitter/X, 7/21/24]
    • Loomer also posted: “I said @JoeBiden would get diagnosed with an illness and then drop out right before @SecretService Director Kim Cheatle was set to testify before Congress about the inside job plot to assassinate President Trump.” [Twitter/X, 7/21/24]
    • Pro-Trump social media personality Phillip Buchanan, known online as Catturd: “Joe dropped out because Democrats were desperate to change the Trump surging news cycle and the truth coming out about the obvious inside job assassination attempt.” [Twitter/X, 7/21/24; Daily Dot, 7/25/23]
    • Right-wing commentator Bill Mitchell, who has repeatedly pushed conspiracy theories, posted, “Biden was waiting to see if the Trump assassination succeeded. When it failed, he was done.” [Twitter/X, 7/21/24; Media Matters, 6/27/24]
    • Right-wing figure Paul Ingrassia: “The Deep State’s agenda to stop Trump: 1. Beat him in the polls = failed. 2. Convict and jail him = failed. 3. Assassinate him = failed. 4. Replace Biden = about to fail. Crazy times we’re living in. There’s no stopping President Trump!” [Twitter/X, 7/21/24]