Donald Trump Jr. recently stirred controversy on social media by endorsing a conspiracy theory.
Controversial Theory Spark
This theory casts doubt on the authenticity of reports concerning a major national security issue, specifically regarding Russia allegedly placing a nuclear weapon in space.
Truth Behind the Scenes?
His comments followed a statement from House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner, who urged President Biden to make public details about this threat. Trump Jr. suggested that the information was deliberately leaked to weaken support for additional aid to Ukraine.
Questioning the Timing of Leak
Trump Jr. questioned, “Does anyone really believe that there is a serious Russian threat that magically leaks about 30 seconds after the Speaker said they’re not going to take up funding another $60 billion in Ukraine?”
He also rhetorically asked, “Is anyone stupid enough to buy this at this point? Textbook deep state propaganda!”
Boebert Echoes Trump Jr.’s Theory
Rep. Lauren Boebert recently aligned herself with the conspiracy theory endorsed by Donald Trump Jr., sparking further debate. Critics pointed out that the information in question was actually leaked by a Republican, Rep. Turner, challenging the notion that it originated from “the deep state.”
Boebert’s reaction to this was, “Funny thing, ain’t it?”
National Security or Political Play?
Both Trump Jr. and Boebert have been accused of prioritizing political agendas over genuine national security concerns by promoting these baseless claims.
GOP’s Surprising Role
With the disclosure coming from a GOP member, many see their dismissal of the reports as a reckless and inappropriate politicization of a critical security issue.
Surveillance Speculations Emerge
Attorney General William Barr has speculated that the Obama administration might have “used the apparatus of the state” to surveil the Trump campaign, potentially influencing the 2016 election’s outcome.
FBI’s Influence?
Barr expressed concern, saying, “The greatest danger to our free system is that the incumbent government use the apparatus of the state, principally the law enforcement agencies and the intelligence agencies, both to spy on political opponents, but also to use them in a way that could affect the outcome of the election,” in reference to the FBI’s decision to initiate the Russia probe in July 2016.
Feeding the Conspiracy Theory
This conclusion has been criticized as feeding into conspiracy theories about the “deep state,” a notion President Trump himself has embraced, even claiming Obama personally ordered his campaign’s surveillance.
The Reality of FBI’s Intentions
These claims, however, are disconnected from reality. The FBI actually took extensive measures to keep the Russia investigation confidential prior to the 2016 election, so as not to sway the election result.
Political Bias Against Trump?
There’s no evidence suggesting the FBI aimed to alter the 2016 election outcome through the Russia investigation.
The inspector general report concluded that the FBI officials’ decision to start the investigation and request FISA warrants against Carter Page wasn’t driven by political bias against Trump.
FBI’s Post-Election Disclosure
The investigation was only publicly acknowledged by the FBI in March 2017, well after the election had concluded.
Former FBI Director James Comey, who was in charge of the Russia probe until his dismissal, explained that the investigation wasn’t disclosed or overtly acted upon, like interviewing witnesses, because they didn’t want to alert Trump campaign associates about the investigation into their Russian connections.
A Silent Approach
Comey explained to ABC News last year that keeping the Russia investigation quiet before the 2016 election was straightforward because it was “far too early” in the investigation. “We didn’t know what we had, and we didn’t want to tip them off that we were looking at them,” he elaborated.
FBI’s Discretion vs. Media Reports
Despite the FBI’s discretion, there were intermittent media reports about the investigation before the election, but these were minimal compared to the coverage of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and the criminal investigation into her private email server.
Spying in Presidential Campaigns
There’s evidence of the CIA spying on Barry Goldwater’s 1964 presidential campaign and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt utilizing the IRS against his opponents.
President Richard Nixon notoriously exploited federal law enforcement, leading to his resignation in 1974.
Read Next: What Really Causes Donald Trump’s Skin to be So Orange
Former President Donald Trump’s distinctive orange skin has captivated attention, sparking curiosity about its evolution from average pale over the years:
What Really Causes Donald Trump’s Skin to be So Orange
21 of the Biggest Lies in American History
Dive into the shadows of American history as we explore 21 of its biggest lies that have left an indelible mark on the nation’s narrative:
21 of the Biggest Lies in American History
32 Things We Once Highly Respected but Are a Complete Joke Now
Discover the amusing downfall of once-respected entities in our changing world:
32 Things We Once Highly Respected but Are a Complete Joke Now
23 of Donald Trump’s Most Hilarious Moments as President
Explore the lighter side of Donald Trump’s presidency with 23 hilariously memorable moments that left the nation in stitches:
23 of Donald Trump’s Most Hilarious Moments as President
27 Things MAGA Movement Ruined Forever for People
How the MAGA movement left its mark on individuals and disrupted certain aspects of our everyday life forever:
