According to  new poll, one-third of Democrats believe that the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a Butler, Pennsylvania, rally last Saturday was staged.

The Morning Consult poll found 34% of surveyed Democratic voters thought it was either definitely or probably credible that Trump staged the shooting. Only 45% found that theory implausible.

More than one prominent leftist has entertained suspicions that the shooting was staged or that Trump’s injury was not caused by a bullet. Dmitri Mehlhorn, a top advisor to Democrat megadonor Reid Hoffman, reportedly suggested in an email that there was a possibility that the shooting was “encouraged and maybe even staged so Trump could get the photos and benefit from the backlash,” Semafor, which reported the email, noted.

“Hoffman has given $7 million to a Biden-aligned super PAC and $6 million to the anti-Trump Republican Accountability PAC so far this election cycle,” The Washington Free Beacon noted.

In the email, which Semafor wrote “appeared to be addressed to sympathetic journalists, and which was also sent to Semafor,” Mehlhorn speculated that one “possibility — which feels horrific and alien and absurd in America, but is quite common globally — is that this ‘shooting’ was encouraged and maybe even staged so Trump could get the photos and benefit from the backlash. This is a classic Russian tactic, such as when Putin killed 300 civilians in 1999 and blamed it on terrorists to ride the backlash to winning power. Others who have embraced this tactic of committing raw evil and then benefitting from the backlash include Hamas on October 7. If any Trump officials encouraged or knew of this attack, that is morally horrific, and Republicans of decency must demand that Trump step down as unfit.”

Although Mehlhorn acknowledged the possibility that “some crazy anti-Trumper in this chaotic moment decided to assassinate the former President,” he also wrote, “I know I am prone to bias on this, but this is a classic Putin play and given the facts seems more plausible. Look at the actual shot. Look at the staging. Look at how ready Trump is to rally; this pampered baby s*** his pants when an eagle lunged at his food. Look at how quickly Trump protects himself at the expense of others, but showed few of those lifelong instincts in this moment. And consider how often Putin and his allies run this play.”

“I know it feels yucky to discuss such a possibility. But in this case, the odds are so high, and the stakes so consequential, we must as[k] the question … Ask the question, people. If it proves wrong, we should respond appropriately to a non-staged act of political violence, as outlined above. But your credibility and our entire system of truth and justice depends on being certain of the answer,” he continued.

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MSNBC host Joy Reid has speculated, “I have many questions! Like where are the medical reports? What caused Trump’s injury and what was the injury? Sheapnel? [sic] Glass? A bullet? Where were the three attendees who were shot seated or standing relative to Trump? Why was Trump allowed to stand and pose for photos, fist pumping for nearly ten seconds while asking about his shoe when there could easily havs been additional shooters? How did the gunman manage to get on the roof of the building WHERE THE LOCAL POLICE WERE LITERALLY INSIDE?”

Former CNN reporter John Harwood had his own doubting perspective, writing on Thursday, “How often have AR-15 bullets ‘pierced’ part of someone’s body, ‘ripping through the skin,’ while leaving the body part intact and without serious injury? On the other hand it’s easy to imagine a shard of shattered glass causing the bleeding Trump suffered[.]”

how often have AR-15 bullets "pierced" part of someone's body, "ripping through the skin," while leaving the body part intact and without serious injury?

on the other hand it's easy to imagine a shard of shattered glass causing the bleeding Trump suffered

no briefing is odd https://t.co/lchLQno9Mn

— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) July 18, 2024