As word spread on social media Saturday night about a third assassination attempt on President Donald Trump, the reaction felt oddly jaded. Some people shrugged it off — “we’ve seen this movie before” was a common refrain — while others immediately started combing for proof that the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner was staged or a false-flag operation.
The leading theory was that the shooting was orchestrated by the Trump administration for political gain before the midterms and to build support for the construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House.
As for MAGA, the response has been relatively muted. Where there has been reaction, it’s largely mirrored Trump’s own talking points: his followers said the incident on Saturday night underscores the need for a ballroom outfitted with bulletproof glass and drone-proof ceilings.
The suspect in the shooting, Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, rushed the event while armed before law enforcement stopped him. While details of the event are still being released, all the available evidence, including an alleged manifesto, points to the gunman having anti-Trump motives.