Sunday, 20 October 2024

Conspiracy Theorists Are At It Again: ‘The Burden Is On Trump To Prove He Was Shot’


BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Secret Service tend to republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump onstage at a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said the shooter is dead after injuring former U.S. President Donald Trump, killing one audience member and injuring another in the shooting. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

In the initial aftermath of former President Donald Trump’s Butler, Pennsylvania, rally, critics were quick to downplay the assassination attempt — and while they quieted some in the days since, they’ve begun to circulate again as the two-week mark approaches.

In the first few days, despite the fact that hero firefighter Corey Comperatore died from a catastrophic gunshot wound and two others were hospitalized — also with gunshot wounds — critics began positing alternate theories on Trump’s injury, suggesting that he might have been hit with shrapnel, glass from a teleprompter, or even that he had simply gotten a scrape when Secret Service Agents took him down.

Twelve days later, and a week after Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) — who served as the appointed Physician to the President under both former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump — released a full statement describing Trump’s gunshot injury and recovery process, the conspiracy theories began to circulate again.

NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles pointed to testimony given by FBI director Christopher Wray in a Wednesday hearing, posting, “This got lost yesterday … but FBI Director Wray told Congress: ‘I think with respect to former President Trump there’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that you know hit his ear.’ Trump has not released medical records from after the shooting.”

CNN National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem added, “I’ve waited a while to say this but the burden is now on Trump to show he was shot. I can condemn the assassination and still demand truth, especially since Trump is now politicizing taking a bullet. Wray has now opened the door; this is not a conspiracy theory. Wray, known for exact phrasing and being careful, didn’t say this on accident. He is begging us to ask.”

“That’s not how that works. You’ve made the claim. It’s your responsibility to prove said claim,” one responded.

Newsbusters’ Alex Christy responded to Kayyem, saying, “On CNN, you’re no longer allowed to call Harris the border czar, but you are allowed to tweet this.”

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Jackson took to X to fire back, saying, “ABSOLUTELY IRRESPONSIBLE for Chris Wray to make such a statement as Director of the FBI. Another POLITICALLY MOTIVATED move by the man that has repeatedly weaponized his office to tear down President Trump. What little credibility he may have left is GONE after recklessly suggesting Trump might not have been hit from a bullet. IT WAS A BULLET — I’VE SEEN THE WOUND! PATHETIC!!!”

Video simulations also showed exactly what would have happened when the bullet struck the former president’s right ear.


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