A recent poll has uncovered the prevalence of conspiracy theories circulating around the attempted assassination of Donald Trump this past weekend.
Approximately one third of Joe Biden’s supporters believe that the attack on Trump may have been staged and not intended to kill the former president. This accounts for a little over 33 percent of Biden supporters. Surprisingly, around 12 percent of Trump’s own followers share the same suspicion, according to a poll conducted by Morning Consult, an American business intelligence company.
During a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump sustained a bullet wound to his ear as an assailant opened fire. The gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fatally shot an audience member and injured two others before being neutralized by Secret Service agents. Despite the violence, Trump displayed defiant resilience by raising his fist and chanting “fight!” before being swiftly removed by security. Some analysts believe that this incident, along with Trump’s reaction, may have bolstered support for the Republican candidate leading up to the upcoming presidential elections in November. However, a separate Morning Consult poll indicates that this event has not significantly influenced the electorate thus far.
The survey delved into conspiracy theories surrounding the attack, revealing the extent of these beliefs. A fifth of all voters (20 percent) found the theory that the attack was orchestrated to be “believable,” while a majority (62 percent) deemed it “unbelievable.” The remaining respondents were either uncertain or had no opinion on the matter.
Various blame games emerged from the poll respondents, with 38 percent attributing the surge in violence in American politics to Trump himself. In contrast, 29 percent blamed Biden for fostering a hostile political atmosphere, while 31 percent held the Republican party accountable, and 25 percent pointed fingers at the Democrats.
A majority of voters expressed concerns about potential election-related violence as the November elections draw near. Over half (53 percent) of Biden’s supporters and 52 percent of Trump’s followers admitted being “very concerned” about the possibility of escalated violence.
Overall, most voters approved of how both Trump and Biden handled the aftermath of the attempted assassination. 58 percent voiced their approval of Biden’s calm appeal, while 29 percent disapproved and the remaining 13 percent remained undecided.
Breaking down the approval ratings by voter allegiances, the data reveals that 83 percent of Biden supporters commend his response, while 36 percent of Trump’s supporters also lauded the President’s reaction.
Regarding Trump’s reaction, 57 percent of all voters approved, with 28 percent of Biden supporters and 88 percent of Trump’s followers giving him a thumbs-up. Disapproval rates stood at 28 percent, and 14 percent of respondents were unsure or had no opinion.