As Donald Trump prepares for a potential rematch against President Joe Biden in the upcoming election, he has been reinvigorating his support from the conspiracy theory known as QAnon. Since launching his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump has reposted or promoted QAnon-affiliated accounts over 800 times, amplifying their messages to a wider audience.
Despite the dangerous implications associated with QAnon, such as links to criminal acts like the Capitol riot and acts of violence and murder, Trump has been encouraging the movement at his rallies and through his online presence. Experts warn that Trump’s promotion of QAnon is playing with fire, particularly as the nation remains polarized.
QAnon originated as anonymous posts on fringe message boards, claiming a vast Democratic conspiracy controlled world affairs and Trump was part of a secret plan to combat them. Despite no evidence supporting these claims, QAnon gained traction in popular culture during the Trump administration and at his rallies. Even after Trump left office, QAnon beliefs persisted and have caused significant harm within communities, tearing families apart and leading to real-world violence.
QAnon followers have been involved in politically motivated crimes, including the Capitol riot, leading to arrests and charges. The movement has inspired extremism and violence, with believers engaging in destructive and dangerous actions. Trump’s continued support of QAnon raises concerns about the impact of promoting such a dangerous and unfounded conspiracy theory on society.
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