At his propaganda presser disguised as a daily briefing about the COVID-19 pandemic, Donald Trump— responding to a question by NBC News’s Shannon Pettypiece— gave his blessing to the violent and conspiratorial far-right QAnon movement this afternoon, on the same day Facebook conducted a purge of approximately 800 QAnon pages and groups. This isn’t a surprise, as he has repeatedly retweeted QAnon supporters on Twitter.
QAnon was spun out of Pizzagate, which was a far-right conspiracy movement that was born in 2016 that targetted Comet Ping Pong on the baseless conspiracy theory that a child trafficking ring that was supposedly operating at that pizzeria. Pizzagate has seen a resurgence in recent times to churn out the baseless conspiracy theory that Wayfair conducts child trafficking, which fueled the conspiratorial #SaveTheChildren/#SaveOurChildren movement that claims to be fighting against child trafficking and pedophilia, but in reality is cloaked in QAnon/Pizzagate rhetoric.
QAnon adherents believe that Trump is their savior who seeks to drain the swamp by busting up supposed pedophilia rings, the “deep state”, and ending human trafficking (especially of children) by decoding “Q” drops that began on 4chan/8chan (now 8kun).
The far-right conspiratorial movement has had people run for Congress (most notably Angela Stanton-King, Lauren Boebert, Jo Rae Perkins, and Marjorie Taylor Greene) and state legislatures this cycle, with the overwhelming majority of those being Republicans.
Video, via RSBN:
Jane Lytvynenko at BuzzFeed News:
At a press conference, Donald Trump crossed a line that even the norm-breaking president has refused to do until today, praising the sprawling and baseless QAnon conspiracy theory, which the FBI labeled a domestic terrorism threat last year. In response to a question from NBC reporter Shannon Pettypiece, Trump said, “I don’t know much about the movement other than I understand that they like me very much, which I appreciate.”
This is the first time the US president has openly acknowledged the far-right conspiracy theory that has spread among some of his followers, though he has previously retweeted content from at least 200 QAnon-affiliated accounts and dodged a question on the subject on Friday.
“It’s this belief that you are secretly saving the world from this satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals,” Pettypiece said. “Does that sound like something you are behind?”
“Is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing?” Trump responded, “If I can help save the world from problems, I’m willing to do it, I’m willing to put myself out there.”
Brett Samuels and Chris Mills Rodrigo at The Hill:
Trump's remark that QAnon supporters like him very much is an undersell: The president is considered almost a deity in the convoluted theory. QAnon supporters are unflinching in their support of him, even as many of the actions predicted by the theory's source — an anonymous individual known as Q who claims to have inside knowledge — have failed to pass.
While the theory's tent is incredibly broad, with sub-conspiracies about Hillary Clinton eating children fitting right alongside others about the 9/11 attacks being false flags, it pays very little attention to events such as protests against police brutality in Portland, Ore., or Chicago.
The targets of the group's attention are much more conspiratorial in nature and normally somewhat tied to child trafficking. For example, the QAnon community was involved in and amplified the false story that online retailer Wayfair was selling children along with its furniture.
CBS News:
Mr. Trump also said QAnon conspiracy believers like him and "love our country," seeming to back the conspiracy cult. Still, Mr. Trump admitted he doesn't know much about the conspiracy theory that describes an alleged secret plot by the so-called "deep state" to undermine the president and his supporters.
Supporters wearing "Q" gear have appeared and Trump rallies, the cult has a strong following online, and QAnon supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene won a GOP primary this week. Given the strong Republican leaning of that district in Georgia, she's likely to win a seat in Congress."Well I don't know much about the movement, other than I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate, but I don't know much about the movement," the president said.
"I've heard these are people that love our country," Mr. Trump said.
When a reporter explained the basics of the conspiracy theory — including that QAnon supporters think the president will save the world from pedophiles and cannibals — the president responded: "If I can help save the world from problems, I'm willing to do it."
Hunter Woodall at The Daily Beast:
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he didn’t know much about the QAnon conspiracy movement, which has been linked to kidnapping and other violent crimes, but readily touted that they like him “very much.” Saying he appreciates the affection from the baseless conspiracy—which posits that his opponents are conspiring against him while engaged in Satantic pedophilia—Trump claimed that “it is gaining in popularity.” He went so far as to suggest protests in Portland might help explain Americans embracing such theories.
This is yet more reason why all Republicans, from President down to dogcatcher, need to be voted out at the ballot box in person or from your mailbox/dropbox!!!!
Thursday, Aug 20, 2020 · 11:08:56 AM +00:00
·
JGibson
Vox’s Shirin Ghaffary:
In the past few weeks, QAnon has been accelerating its years-long shift into the political mainstream. Last week, congressional candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene won the Republican nomination for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, making her the first open QAnon supporter to likely be elected into the House of Representatives this fall. Several other QAnon supporters are also running as Republican candidates across the US. Now, Trump’s comments — whether they were a serious signal of his potential belief in QAnon or just his usual pandering to any enthusiastic base of supporters — are lending the troubling group more legitimacy.
When the reporter followed up to ask Trump if he backs QAnon’s conspiracy theory that he is “secretly saving the world from this satanic cult of pedophiles,” Trump replied:
“Well, I haven’t heard that, but is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing?” He continued, “If I help save the world from problems, I’m willing to do it, and I will put myself out there.”
In May 2019, the FBI identified QAnon as a potential domestic terrorism threat. Some QAnon followers have committed acts of violence inspired by their beliefs, including attempted arson and blocking a bridge with a homemade armored vehicle full of weapons. Although it appears that only a minority of QAnon believers so far have engaged in violence in support of the movement, many experts have expressed concern about how its conspiracy theories can quickly radicalize its followers.
[...]
While Trump has promoted posts from QAnon followers in the past on social media, his remarks on Wednesday were the first time he has directly said something positive about the group. Rather than denouncing QAnon’s links to senseless violence, Trump seemed to welcome his role as the messiah of a movement.
Thursday, Aug 20, 2020 · 5:54:48 PM +00:00
·
JGibson
This morning on Fox “News”’s America’s Newsroom, Press Secretary (aka Trump propganda spox) Kayleigh McEnany went on the show to defend Trump’s embrace of the deranged QAnon movement, and host Sandra Smith took her to task for defending QAnon.
David Edwards at Raw Story:
“Is the president supporting this conspiracy theory?” Smith asked the press secretary.
“No, what the president is doing is working for the American people,” McEnany insisted. “The media talks a lot about this so-called QAnon. I’ve never heard the president mention it. I talk to him, oftentimes ten times a day. Not once have I heard him mention this group. The media talks about it. But this president if focused on a pandemic that he’s navigating a historic response for.”
[...]
“His words were that he has heard about them,” Smith said. “And that they are people that love our country. It was puzzling to many people.”
“He’s talking about his supporters,” McEnany replied. “He believes his supporters are good hardworking people that love this country. He’s not in the business of a ‘basket of deplorable’ politics.”
“Does he want the support of that group?” Smith interrupted.
McEnany stuttered before answering: “He has not at all looked into who QAnon is!”
Smith responded by quoting an FBI report which called QAnon “possible conspiracy-theory driven domestic extremists.”
From the 08.20.2020 edition of FNC’s America’s Newsroom:
