Supporters of Donald Trump and conspiracist influencers have turned against him after federal investigations into Jeffrey Epstein's death concluded. This reflects a culmination of long-standing trends where Trump's manipulation of conspiracies and institutional distrust became self-destructive. Various rightwing conspiracy theories, such as Pizzagate and QAnon, have emphasized themes of powerful individuals engaging in pedophilia and human trafficking. Despite lacking evidence, these narratives encouraged violence and fostered a belief in a deep state pursuing illicit activities, eventually contributing to the current discord among Trump’s base.
The situation reflects a long trend of Trump's exploitation of conspiracist fictions, where distrust in institutions and his supporters' fascinations turned against him.
Far-right conspiracy theories have been fueled by claims linking powerful individuals, particularly Democrats, to elaborate child trafficking rings, culminating in movements like QAnon.
While there was no evidence supporting Pizzagate's claims about Clinton, the narrative drove a dangerous wave of belief, culminating in real-world incidents of violence.
QAnon, rooted in similar unfounded conspiracy theories, convinced many supporters that Trump was engaged in a secret battle against a deep state child sex trafficking ring.
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