Top 10 Wild Conspiracy Theories Surrounding the Trump Assassination Attempt
As of October 2025, the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, continues to fuel intense online speculation. A recent Northeastern University survey revealed that over 50% of Americans have encountered claims that the event was orchestrated, with beliefs split along partisan lines: 29% of those exposed think it’s somewhat or very likely Democrats staged it to derail Trump’s campaign, while similar numbers suspect Republicans faked it for sympathy votes. Social media amplifies these narratives, blending old footage, psychic visions, and AI analyses into a frenzy of doubt. Here’s a rundown of the top 10 theories dominating discussions right now.
- It Was Staged by Democrats to Stop Trump’s 2024 Win: Theorists claim Democratic operatives hired the shooter to eliminate Trump before the election, citing the timing just before the RNC as too coincidental. Personal networks and social media spread this fastest, with 41% exposure in surveys.
- Republicans Faked It for Sympathy and Polling Boost: Left-leaning voices argue Trump orchestrated the graze on his ear using a blood pack, pointing to the lack of a visible scar a year later and his immediate fist-pump pose. MSNBC’s Joy Reid questioned how his ear “grew back” without medical proof.
- No Real Shooter—Just a Training Exercise Gone Wrong: Some insist the rooftop figure was a Secret Service drill prop, noting the crowd’s lack of panic and Trump’s odd shout for his shoes amid chaos.
- Iran and Russia Plotted It Amid Geopolitical Tensions: AI-driven intel claims foreign actors targeted Trump during a public event in September 2025, linking it to U.S. foreign policy escalations.
- Barack Obama and Lloyd Austin Masterminded the Plot: A psychic vision alleges a group of 19, including the former president and defense secretary, planned the Butler hit for political revenge.
- Reid Hoffman Predicted It—Linked to Deep State Funding: LinkedIn co-founder Hoffman’s July 11, 2024, remark about threats is seen as a slip, tying into broader elite orchestration claims.
- Alex Jones Foretold the Exact Scenario Weeks Prior: Infowars host’s June 2024 speech detailing a rally shooting is hailed as prophecy, boosting QAnon ties to the event.
- SIM Card Farm Disrupted Comms for a Larger Hit: A device farm near the site allegedly jammed signals to enable the attempt, stopped only by an anonymous escalator intervention.
- ChatGPT Analysis Proves It Was a False Flag Murder: An AI breakdown concludes the event was staged, implicating Trump in the deaths of the shooter and a spectator for political gain.
- Patsy Handlers Back Out Due to Cowardice: The failed attempts (including a second in September) stem from handlers using lone patsies without backup, fearing personal risk.
These theories persist a year on, with the annivers