National poll shows 1 in 3 people think attempted assassination of Donald Trump is part of a conspiracy
“To what extent, if at all, are you familiar with the arrest of a man suspected of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump on September 15, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida?” was the question posed to a diverse sample of respondents nationwide in the survey, which Redfield & Wilton Strategies conducted exclusively for Newsweek.
38% of those surveyed indicated they were “very familiar,” while 11% said they had no familiarity at all.
The question “Did Donald Trump survive an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, in June?” was asked after this. Do you think the incidents that happened in West Palm Beach last week and Butler in June were the product of a larger plot involving many people, or did they stem from the actions of lone individuals?
More than one-third of participants, or 36%, expressed the opinion that there was a larger plot involving numerous individuals to try to kill Trump.
Of those surveyed, 44% said the assassination attempts were lone instances of violence, 20% were uncertain or chose not to respond.
The results may be a reflection of the growing mistrust that people have for American institutions as well as the impact of populist and far-right narratives that have been more popular over the last 10 years.
Conspiracy theories began to surface online after Trump’s attempted assassination in July, as previously reported by Newsweek.
Numerous assassination threats have been made against Trump both during and after his administration, and his ardent followers have often spun these episodes as evidence of a larger attempt to quiet him. Trump has made repeated allusions to “deep state” players in his rallies, alleging that their goal is to remove him from office because of his political clout. These worries have been expressed repeatedly by prominent people and pro-Trump media sources.
Following his briefing by U.S. intelligence on purported assassination plots, Trump has said that there are “big threats” against his life from Iran, as previously reported by Newsweek. Federal investigators are looking into two possible assassination attempts against Trump in the last several months.
Officials from Iran have denied any participation in a plan to assassinate Trump.
The results of the survey are being released at a time when news is dominated by Trump’s legal troubles, including his several indictments. The perception held by his followers that these legal challenges are politically motivated only serves to reinforce the victimization story, as they may have been part of an assassination plot.
Analysts warn that the public’s degree of mistrust, together with the nation’s continued division, may make it more difficult to sustain unity in the years to come.
