CHICAGO — President Donald Trump is recycling a baseless conspiracy theory to claim that recent protests have been orchestrated by powerful people in “dark shadows” intent on undermining his reelection prospects. The claims first took root on Facebook and Twitter earlier this year after racial justice protests swelled across the...
Trump Praises QAnon Conspiracists, Appreciates Support
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday praised the supporters of QAnon, a convoluted, pro-Trump conspiracy theory, and suggested he appreciates their support of his candidacy. Speaking during a press conference at the White House, Trump courted the support of those who put stock in the conspiracy theory, saying, “I...
Trump Insists on Debunked Ukraine Theory, Despite Testimony
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday promoted a debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election, a day after a former White House adviser called it a “fictional narrative” and said it played into Russia’s hands. Trump called in to “Fox & Friends” and said he was...
Bomb Suspect Was Cash-Strapped Ex-Stripper Devoted to Trump
WASHINGTON — Cesar Sayoc is an amateur body builder and former stripper, a loner with a long arrest record who showed little interest in politics until Donald Trump came along. On Friday, he was identified by authorities as the Florida man who put pipe bombs in small manila envelopes, affixed...
Who Is Q? Behind the Conspiracy Theory Erupting at Trump Rallies
TAMPA, Fla. — Amid the "Trump 2020" placards, the "Women for Trump" signs and the "CNN SUCKS" T-shirts, the most inscrutable message that came out of Donald Trump's Tampa rally on Tuesday evening was a letter: Q. People wore T-shirts with the letter emblazoned on the front. Others carried signs...