Trump pursues phony Crowdstrike conspiracy theory

This crackpot conspiracy theory blames the Democrats and Ukraine for 2016 election interference. It gets Russia off the hook which of course appeals to Trump.

New from me:

A conspiracy theory called “The Insurance Policy” consumed President Trump’s inner-circle. Their connection? They all absolved Russia.https://t.co/CMMwlg8ScM
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) October 3, 2019

It feels somewhat reminiscent of Russian propaganda campaigns themselves—an effort not to advance a single narrative as much as to flood the zone with disinfo and speculation to the degree that an average overseer throws up his hands and decides the truth is simply unknowable https://t.co/YyTYDgQ3CO
— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) October 1, 2019

ok i honestly did not understand the crowdstrike thing until just now, did not know it was connected to the Seth Rich thing, and am blown away once again by how the most powerful man in the world is getting his info https://t.co/SbtH84tSB1 pic.twitter.com/Eu5k44UzKH
— the norms misser (@cd_hooks) October 1, 2019

Unless I missed someone, Bossert appears to be the first Trump former administration official to condemn the president over the Ukraine call and the focus on who did the hacking in 2016: https://t.co/jHLQjEA3XQ
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) September 29, 2019

The Crowdstrike conspiracy that President Trump asked the Ukrainian to investigate started as a 4chan post, then was laundered through almost every step of this handy-dandy chart I made in 2017.

4chan rumors become self-fulfilling prophesies—and they eventually cite themselves. https://t.co/fziI2f1BBH
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) September 27, 2019

The Crowdstrike conspiracy theory Trump mentioned on his call with Zelenskiy started, of course, on 4chan. Here are the origins: https://t.co/oEBkQNn65t
— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) September 26, 2019

Absolutely Critical: The references to "Crowdstrike" and the "server" are abt a conspiracy theory that the DNC hack was an inside job and that Russia was framed for it by Ukraine and the DNC. It's the same theory that says Seth Rich was murdered. https://t.co/j55ZMx0UoP via @TPM
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) September 25, 2019

The Trump-Ukraine phone call memo reveals that Trump pressed Zelensky to investigate CrowdStrike, a private cybersecurity firm that the DNC hired in 2016 to probe whether it had been hacked, and that Trump incorrectly suggested is owned by a Ukrainian. https://t.co/BfmWWA7H5q
— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) September 25, 2019

Conspiracy theory about Beto O’Rourke

Just another right wing conspiracy theory. Sad!

Thread from Beto campaign manager blasting Twitter, FB, Google for allowing disinformation to spread. https://t.co/Ta1ydsaXOc
— Alex Thompson (@AlxThomp) September 4, 2019

This is really interesting. In 2016, campaigns knew misinformation was being spread by bots and sock puppets, but they didn’t know how to talk about it. Now, we’re seeing campaigns and reporters highlight what had been unspoken. https://t.co/tunVmLx8MI
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) September 4, 2019

QAnon update 9/1/19

They even think Hurricane Dorian is part of the conspiracy!

Michael Flynn and George Papadopoulos are scheduled to speak at conference organized by a QAnon supporter, and which features on its website an American flag with a big Q on it. https://t.co/WJaN4TGOyt
— Dan Friedman (@dfriedman33) August 13, 2019

Because of course they do.

QAnon is the Jacob Wohl of conspiracy theories. https://t.co/QfVnoh5KvB
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) September 1, 2019

fits w/ my theory that Qanon stuff is evolving into some combo of 'Trump is a great leader' & 'it's fun to be part of a community that triggers the libs real hard' & so the campaign will embrace. (despite fact that it's still bananas and clearly has unstable, violent followers) https://t.co/fGdIOsAUb0
— Charlie Warzel (@cwarzel) August 7, 2019

Trump promotes conspiracy theories

Trump-pushed conspiracy theories:

-Clintons involved in Epstein
-Vince Foster
-Scalia foul play
-Birtherism (x3)
-3-5 mil illegal votes
-Wind farms cause cancer
-Global warming=Chinese hoax
-Asbestos=Mafia hoax
-Mass killing of white farmers in S. Africahttps://t.co/rnb5BBh1uU
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) August 12, 2019

"…There is no bottom to this President's willingness to destroy democratic norms…He will lie reflexively and promote conspiracy theories until it starts to seem normal. It isn't. This isn't a reality show. This is our country." | @JohnAvlon, @CNNOpinion https://t.co/fi7HakxBYp
— CNN (@CNN) August 13, 2019

“Trump has a long history of spreading falsehoods drawn from the fringes.

“His rise to the White House was fueled in part by spreading the lie that President Obama was not born in the U.S., and he has trafficked in numerous others to malign his opponents” https://t.co/z8y8GuHWzq
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) August 13, 2019

“It’s another example of something where he should stop and think about the fact that he’s the president of the United States, and stop his thumbs, but he never does,” said Rich Lowry. https://t.co/hj9HGxsSKd
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 13, 2019

“I started realizing that a lot of people were united in a belief in conspiracy theories because something bad had happened to them, and they were sort of looking for answers that mainstream explanations for things didn’t provide.” —@annamerlan https://t.co/zW90YV5Ncu
— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) August 14, 2019

Trump spreads conspiracy theory about Epstein’s death

He retweeted nonsense that blamed the Clintons. Bots are picking up on it, too. This is disgusting but typical for Trump. I don’t trust Barr to do a complete and fair investigation.

As Epstein conspiracy theories abound, remember this is about both partisan politics & broader loss of confidence in govt. When I was in the Middle East (the former conspiracy theory capital) that was the fuel: folks didn’t trust authorities so assumed a plot behind every event
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) August 10, 2019

The right is going to think the left is responsible for Epstein’s death and vice versa.

But simple fact is the left did NOT have physical control of Epstein’s person. Bill Barr did.

FACT! Pure and simple. FACT! And no one had more to lose from Epstein talking than 45. NO ONE!
— Pam Keith (@PamKeithFL) August 10, 2019

Jeffrey Epstein has turned everyone into a conspiracy theorist. My piece on a very strange Saturday, and why paranoia seems inevitable now: https://t.co/jzMEVv0CoS
— McKay Coppins (@mckaycoppins) August 11, 2019

The most prominent conspiracy-monger is the man you support as president of the United States. Why don’t you start there? https://t.co/ZVo6h0Vs94
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) August 10, 2019

Hey @realDonaldTrump, you were friends with Jeffrey Epstein and were at parties with him. His death happened under your watch. Before you tweet out conspiracy theories, you may want to first talk with your AG Bill Barr and your head of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. https://t.co/YZXV8oaAKS
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 10, 2019

Trump amplifies Epstein conspiracy theories on social mediahttps://t.co/pkXWdrYZ07
— POLITICO (@politico) August 10, 2019

With his retweets of those vile anti-Clinton conspiracy theories, Trump gave permission — or perhaps even, in effect, assigned — his supporters in right-wing media to go full steam ahead with that narrative.
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) August 10, 2019

President Trump now retweeting his apparent favorite Epstein conspiracy theory. Epstein was in US custody. The president has the ability to find out what actually happened from those who work for him if he so chooses. Or he can retweet this without evidence. https://t.co/3g8kvpSuUz
— Eamon Javers (@EamonJavers) August 10, 2019

It is unfathomable to me that a President of the United States would retweet this. Literally unfathomable. It would be outrageous for even a member of a local city council, let alone from the person who is to Take Care that the Laws be Faithfully Executed. pic.twitter.com/wx7FCdnmp2
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) August 10, 2019

Uh huh, The Russian Trumpbots are working hard to make sure ClintonBodyCount is trending.#TrumpBodyCount #TrumpEpstein pic.twitter.com/ygB6vjBTCP
— Wayne's The Name!!!✝️🤚🏾🇺🇸 (@EngineerMinded) August 10, 2019

The president retweeted this. So, here we are. https://t.co/aaGhvOYTLo
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) August 10, 2019

The Epstein saga is a perfect example of why conspiracy theories have such a stranglehold on so many people right now. It’s confirmation that the world often works exactly the way people have always suspected — that the rich and powerful and connected will always win in the end.
— Scott Bixby (@scottbix) August 10, 2019

Don Barr (Bill Barr's dad) hired Jeffrey Epstein to teach at Dalton school.

Feds release docs a few days ago implicating Dems (but not Trump! Surprised?) w/ Epstein.

Bill Barr runs the DOJ, so runs the prison where Epstein died; Barr now runs the death investigation.

Dots?
— Thom Hartmann (@Thom_Hartmann) August 10, 2019

Exactly. Well that and his history of greasing pardons for the Iran Contra crew…and getting called The Coverup General by conservative writer William Safire for tidying up Iraqgate…and not recusing on the Epstein fed case…and behaving like 'the hand to the king' not the AG. https://t.co/2QBvQJJ5es
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) August 10, 2019

Bill Barr’s father, the soon-to-be-canned headmaster Donald Barr, hired Jeffrey Epstein to teach teenagers at NY’s Dalton School in 1970s. Even though Epstein had no college diploma. https://t.co/6SKkCGAMcv
— Frank Rich (@frankrichny) August 10, 2019

And… scene. https://t.co/jOCrldfjLs
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) August 10, 2019

Lynne Patton—the Trump family wedding planner who lied about her qualifications on her CV and was nonetheless put in charge of all federal housing in NY/NJ—has said Epstein was “Hillary’d.” How many more reasons do you need for why she should resign & is unfit for public office?
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) August 10, 2019

I’m with @AOC on this #Epstein mess. You don’t have to be a conspiracy theorist to see an evil coverup to protect lots of powerful men here. You’d have to be bizarrely naive not to. https://t.co/WDbek257US
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) August 10, 2019

This is either another colossal screw up by the @realDonaldTrump Administration, or something nefarious happened. @HouseJudiciary Committee has oversight over the Fed Bureau of Prisons. Let's hope @TheJusticeDept won't obstruct Congress from looking into the death of Epstein. https://t.co/lYKFsWZ9Yj
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 10, 2019

So we are to believe:

1. Hillary Clinton managed to have Seth Rich, Vince Foster & Jeffrey Epstein killed;

2. But she can't manage to win Pennsylvania or Michigan;

Mmm…k y'all.

Qballs gonna Qball…
— Tim Wise (@timjacobwise) August 10, 2019

Holy crap @LynnePattonHUD, Trump’s administrator of Dept of Housing and Urban Development Region II — and former Trump family event planner — says Hillary Clinton killed Epstein. https://t.co/nXc7E3vB5t
— Eric Columbus (@EricColumbus) August 10, 2019

Guilt has a thousand tongues. For Trump, it speaks through projecting onto those he envies sins of which he knows himself capable and may even have committed. . . https://t.co/XloKjvmiho
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) August 11, 2019

To every Republican in America-now is your time to condemn this shit. If not you are complicit and just as bad as him. Maybe worse since you’re not nearly as mentally unstable as he is. This is judgement time. https://t.co/8q3wh4FYeS
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) August 10, 2019

I am not aware of any Republican official who has condemned Trump. They’re all in for their lying bigot.

If you only read 1 thing about the Epstein conspiracy theories, read @cwarzel https://t.co/WaR51jf3CP
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) August 11, 2019

Trump just fanned the flames of the Clinton-Epstein conspiracy theory again. His supporters love it. https://t.co/5hU89Eyr3l
— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) August 13, 2019

QAnon update 8/7/19

NEW — The Trump campaign released an ad with clear, noticeable QAnon signs in ithttps://t.co/8lqCiQ71Yb

Via @willsommer
— Sam Stein (@samstein) August 7, 2019

Trump shares Twitter accounts linked to conspiracy theorist QAnon https://t.co/bdz9AxiplV
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 30, 2019

fits w/ my theory that Qanon stuff is evolving into some combo of 'Trump is a great leader' & 'it's fun to be part of a community that triggers the libs real hard' & so the campaign will embrace. (despite fact that it's still bananas and clearly has unstable, violent followers) https://t.co/fGdIOsAUb0
— Charlie Warzel (@cwarzel) August 7, 2019

An FBI intelligence bulletin from the bureau’s Phoenix field office describes “conspiracy theory-driven domestic extremists,” as a growing threat and specifically mentions QAnon. (via @Isikoff) https://t.co/pTeJ3sMkF9
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) August 7, 2019

This is the essence of the conspiracy theory epistemology… that it is psychologically more comforting to believe in secret hands (both good and evil) that control world events than to understand social reality as a complex and chaotic system. https://t.co/DHi9AZaqZ2
— Kate Starbird (@katestarbird) August 5, 2019

QAnon says FBI labeling them a terror threat just proves there’s a deep-state conspiracy against them https://t.co/BJqHPnNjze
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) August 4, 2019

Before he killed a mob boss on Staten Island, a QAnon adherent tried to perform a citizen's arrest on Bill de Blasio at Gracie Mansion.

How political conspiracy theories overlap with mental illness. https://t.co/lXy2i2gM4O
— Philip Bump (@pbump) July 24, 2019

There are some new details in the QAnon Mafia boss murder — the suspect's lawyer says he was obsessed with QAnon, was convinced the victim was a member of the deep state. https://t.co/RWojHvs4Z1
— Will Sommer (@willsommer) July 21, 2019

A Republican House candidate challenging Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has made frequent references to the pro-Trump QAnon conspiracy theory, potentially making her the latest QAnon believer to run for federal office in 2020 https://t.co/YofLt1xL4R
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) July 23, 2019

The Seth Rich conspiracy theory was started by Russia

Fox News promoted it.

THREAD: In the summer of 2016, Russian intelligence agents secretly planted a fake report claiming that DNC staffer Seth Rich was gunned down by a squad of assassins working for Hillary Clinton https://t.co/26wYjjhQBz via @Isikoff
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) July 9, 2019

In the new episode of #Conspiracyland, you can hear how then top WH aide Steve Bannon promoted the bogus Seth Rich murder conspiracy– "its a contract kill, obviously," he tells a Sixty Minutes producer and…(1) https://t.co/qVcIFGatSL
— Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff) July 23, 2019

So, this is interesting. Right-wing Trump-adoring conspiracy theorist dumps all his Seth Rich related stuff after it turns out the signal was coming from Moscow. But why? I mean, was he offered some kind of reputation-washing fellowship at some prestigious institution? /1 https://t.co/zOJnjzTVT6
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 10, 2019

.@chrislhayes on the Seth Rich conspiracy theories last night: "I should also say that my beloved magazine The Nation, that I worked at for years on the masthead, also ran stories dabbling in this. This got to lots of places, there were left-venues that adopted it." Kudos. pic.twitter.com/1VF1fte53Y
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) July 10, 2019

It was one of the wildest conspiracies of the 2016 election and was peddled by Trump’s favorite TV network & inside his own White House. The true origins of the Seth Rich lie are being exposed and we hear crickets from those who pushed it. They must own it, they must apologize. pic.twitter.com/0n4r0fU7XT
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) July 10, 2019

Remember the retracted Fox article on Seth Rich? Yahoo News says the editors doubted the source for it existed.

“The Fox editors came to have doubts that the person was in fact who he claimed to be or whether the person actually existed, said the source.”https://t.co/aSFrYYGE2p
— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) July 9, 2019

Update: In more text messages to me, Rudy Giuliani doubled down on his Seth Rich conspiracy theory and accused me of lacking "proper seductive (sic) reasoning" https://t.co/sDpi03sMKF
— Will Sommer (@willsommer) August 26, 2019

They will never stop pushing this terrible conspiracy theory.