“American politics has frequently attracted intense and passionate individuals,” noted political scientist Richard Hofstadter in his renowned essay “The Paranoid Style in American Politics,” written 60 years ago. In the past, this kind of exaggerated, suspicious, and conspiratorial discourse was mostly confined to the fringes. However, with the advent of the internet, these ideas have become accessible to a wider audience, leading to increased discord and spread of misinformation.
After the shocking assassination attempt against Donald Trump on Saturday evening, meme-makers and influencers on both the left and right quickly agreed on one thing: the shooting must have been orchestrated. Some on the left described it as a false-flag operation staged to make Mr. Trump look invincible and bolster his election prospects. They pointed to the way Mr. Trump paused to pose for photos with his fist in the air and blood streaking down his cheek as evidence that the attack must have been choreographed by the candidate’s own image-makers.
