'Deep state runs deep': Conspiracy theorists run wild after second Trump assassination attempt

After Donald Trump survived a second apparent assassination attempt while playing golf in Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday, September 15, the FBI launched an investigation of the suspect: 58-year-old North Carolina resident Ryan Wesley Routh, who is now facing federal gun charges.

A U.S. Secret Service agent, according to reports, allegedly spotted Routh pointing a gun through a fence near where Trump was golfing. And he fled the scene but later surrendered to police.

FBI agents are looking for possible motives, and Routh appears to be a "lone wolf" rather than part of an organized group.

READ MORE:'Like the KKK whisperer': Vance blasted over doubling down on 'Laura Loomer’s racist statement'

But far-right conspiracy theorists, according to The Guardian's Rachel Leingang, have been quick to push unsubstantiated claims about the September 15 incident.

"Questions surrounding how Routh knew Trump would be golfing that day, given that the round wasn’t on a public schedule, led some to suggest that those tasked with protecting the president could be in on the attempt," Leingang observes. "The former president praised the Secret Service in the aftermath of the apparent thwarted shooting."

Leingang continues, "Another conspiracy theory claimed Routh appeared in a video for the investment firm BlackRock. The video footage circulated along with the claim shows him at a protest in Ukraine, though the video is unaffiliated with the firm, the company said, adding that Routh 'has never been an employee of BlackRock nor has he appeared in any BlackRock ads.' The theory attempted to tie Routh to Thomas Crooks, the shooter in the first assassination attempt against Trump in July, who did appear in a BlackRock commercial when he was a student at Bethel Park high school in Pennsylvania."

Far-right MAGA activist Laura Loomer, a 9/11 truther, implied that Routh's actions had a Ukraine connection and a CIA connection.

READ MORE: 'Watch our state burn': Trump slammed by firefighters union for threatening to 'play with their lives'

On X, formerly Twitter, Loomer posted, "Now we see Ryan Routh, who tried to assassinate President Trump today at his West Palm Beach, FL golf club, was profiled by the New York Times @nytimes in 2023 and worked with the US foreign Legion in Ukraine, which has ties to the CIA. The DEEP STATE runs Deep!"

Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk, another far-right MAGA Republican, tweeted, "What are the odds that this shooter, who spent months fighting in Ukraine, has zero links to anyone in US military or intelligence circles? Find them."

READ MORE: 'That doesn’t make any sense': Mehdi Hasan celebrated for on-air takedown of Jill Stein

Read The Guardian's full article at this link.