Trump has lost control of the conspiracy theories
Donald Trump, once a key promoter of conspiracy theories, is now increasingly becoming their target, with both former allies and progressive voices questioning the authenticity of an alleged assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The spread of these unfounded theories has created challenges for Trump’s messaging and support, even as his approval ratings decline amid concerns over the economy and foreign policy. While the White House has dismissed the claims as absurd, the incident highlights the unpredictable nature of conspiracy-driven discourse in current political dynamics.
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Donald TrumpTrump has lost control of the conspiracy theoriesTrump has long used conspiracy theories to his benefit. But now that he's president, he's the target of some of these influencers who have pushed those theories. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Chelsea Stahl / NBC News; Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 1, 2026, 1:17 PM EDTBy Allan SmithConspiracy theories have been central to Donald Trump’s political rise. He was a leading promoter of the “birther” conspiracy theory targeting then-President Barack Obama, embraced outlandish theories about a “deep state” in the government and still pushes false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.But…
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