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Danielle Lee Tomson, Research Manager, Center for an Informed Public, University of Washington

Online rumors sparked by the Trump assassination attempt spread rapidly, on both ends of the political spectrum

Donald Trump Secret Service Assassination
A bloodied Donald Trump is surrounded by Secret Service agents. Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images

In the immediate hours after the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump on July 13, 2024, social media users posted the same videos, images and eyewitness accounts but used them as evidence for different rumors or theories that aligned with their political preferences.

Among the deluge of rumors, one TikTok creator narrated the instantly iconic photo of Trump raising his fist, ear bloodied as he emerged from the Secret Service scrum. “People are wondering if this photo is staged?” His answer: “Yes.”

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