On Sunday, the day after the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump, people posted photos and a video that seemed to show the former president playing golf at his private club in Bedminster, New Jersey. One photo showed Mr. Trump putting on the green without bandages on his ear, and in the video, he was waving to fans as he got into a golf cart.
However, according to an email to club members, the club was closed that day. The person who shared the video later admitted it was not from Sunday.
Despite this, the video was shared again on different platforms, with some people, including Senator Mike Lee from Utah, claiming it was recent. Lee later realized the footage was old but didn’t delete his original post. That post now has over 9 million views.
It’s just one example of the left’s attempts to weave conspiracy theories regarding Trump’s near-death experience. Videos and photos are circulating, each intended to sow doubt into the official narrative.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre coined the perfect phrase for these images. It turns out that “cheap fakes” is the perfect way to describe them. And dozens are circulating on social media, with “hard-hitting questions” to fuel wild conspiracy theories.
Some users also shared photos of Mr. Trump that they said were from the Republican National Convention on Monday night. In these photos, Mr. Trump’s unbandaged ear looks fine.
CBS News confirmed that these photos were actually from earlier events. When Mr. Trump did appear at the RNC, his right ear was covered with a bandage.
A video of the assassination attempt shows Trump speaking to the crowd and reacting as a bullet hits him in the ear. Secret Service agents then surround him and help him off the stage. Before being moved, Trump can be seen raising his fist.
However, some social media posts have altered this image to falsely show the agents smiling and suggest the incident was “staged.”
A July 14 post on Threads shows the altered image with a caption asking, “Why are the Secret Service smiling? STAGED.”
An Instagram video from the same day shows different photos from the shooting, including one accurate image of the agents looking concerned and one altered photo where they appear to be smiling. The video’s narrator questions if the incident was fake, but the modified image of the agents smiling is the only “fake” part of the story.
Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci took the original photo of Trump raising his fist as Secret Service agents help him off the stage. The AP published this photo on July 14 with a caption saying, “Former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa.”
Some social media posts have altered this photo to falsely suggest the agents were smiling and that the incident was staged.
President Joe Biden has called for an independent review. Additionally, Congress plans to investigate the security measures taken at the July 13 rally.
The Secret Service, responsible for protecting the president, is being questioned about their preparations, the size of the security area, and how the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, managed to access a rooftop near the stage.
Crooks, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was shot and killed by Secret Service snipers. The shooting resulted in one death and two injuries, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
On July 15, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle addressed agents’ actions during the incident. Cheatle explained that Secret Service agents acted quickly with their counter-sniper team. Some agents neutralized the shooter, while others ensured Trump’s safety.
Cheatle also stated that the Secret Service is working with federal, state, and local agencies to understand what happened. She said the Secret Service will fully participate in the independent review announced by President Biden and cooperate with Congressional committees for oversight.
In the absence of facts, leftists are spinning conspiracies. These include theories that Trump staged his own assassination attempt. Shortly after the incident, “staged” was one of the second-highest trending topics.
Conservatives must reign in their alternative theories and let the leftists sink their own ships. Most likely, the incident was exactly what it seemed – a crazed loner tried to leave his mark on history by shooting a presidential candidate. No conspiracy theories are required on either side.
