Some conspiracies are easier to debunk than others.
Some suspected that Apple was “slowing down” its older phones to pressure consumers to buy the latest models. Turns out that was true.
One of the easiest conspiracies to defang? The 2024 assassination attempt against then-candidate Donald Trump was staged.
Except we all saw the video, a rally participant died in the melee and two other attendees suffered gunshot wounds. Plus, a Secret Service agent shot and killed the young, would-be assassin.
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Other than that, it’s likely Trump staged the shooting to boost his campaign, right? It’s laughable.
Yet some famous folks embrace the conspiracy all the same, including Rosie O’Donnell and John Leguizamo. Many others have hinted that they, too, may believe it, like Tim Dillon.
The latest person to fall for it? Author Joyce Carol Oates.
The mind behind “Blonde,” “Them” and “What I Lived For” has spent the weekend pushing a long list of X posts claiming Trump staged his own assassination attempt.
Even Alex Jones might blush at her musings. Here’s a sample of posts Oates has retweeted in the last 24 hours.
Of course it was staged. The problem people aren’t talking about is the Secret Service were complicit. The system designed to protect US leadership of all walks as well as foreign dignitaries in the took the side of a convicted rapist and pedophile.
— Ecliptic_09 (@Ecliptic_09) April 18, 2026
— Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) April 19, 2026
Embarrassing.
Then again, maybe not as embarrassing as this:
So barbaric that this should still be allowed… No conservation laws in effect wherever this is? https://t.co/hgavm9IBaM
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) June 9, 2015
