BlueAnon
BlueAnon is a catchall term for several loosely related left-wing conspiracy theories that posit Donald Trump is engaged in elaborate schemes to seize or maintain control of the United States Government or that he is the object of manipulation by shadowy forces.
Etymology
[edit]The term BlueAnon was first coined in 2016 and gained prominence in 2024.[1][2][3] It is derived from QAnon, a right-wing conspiracy theory, and the color blue, which has been associated with the Democratic Party in the 21st century.[4]
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Beliefs
[edit]Some BlueAnon theorists have alleged that the attempted assassination of Donald Trump was a false flag staged by Trump himself.[5][6] Snopes has examined and discredited viral photos alleging to show Trump plotting with gunman Thomas Crooks, as well as claims that Trump was injured by glass instead of shrapnel.[7][8] PolitiFact has debunked claims that blood which appeared to be coming from Trump's ear following the assassination attempt was faked with a blood pill.[9]
Other beliefs subscribed to by some BlueAnon theorists include: that a cabal of Silicon Valley executives is plotting to overthrow Trump and replace him with JD Vance,[6] that Donald Trump rigged the 2024 U.S. presidential election,[10] that a body double of Melania Trump was used during campaign appearances in the 2024 U.S. presidential election,[10] that Joe Biden had either been drugged or afflicted with Havana Syndrome during the 2024 Joe Biden–Donald Trump presidential debate,[11] and that Donald Trump has hidden incriminating documents in the grave of Ivana Trump.[12]
Propagation and influence
[edit]| Brutus | |
|---|---|
| External media | |
 A video produced by the Lincoln Project in 2024, titled "Brutus", propagated a BlueAnon conspiracy theory[6] | |
 Lincoln Project video on YouTube |
Following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania in July 2024, Dmitri Mehlhorn distributed an email to colleagues — which the Columbia Journalism Review associated with BlueAnon theorizing — that suggested that Trump "encouraged and maybe even staged [the assassination attempt] so Trump could get the photos and benefit from the backlash."[1] Numerous social media posts to X similarly suggested the assassination attempt had been staged.[1]
Springtrap @Espaking2HERE'S A THREAD EXPOSING DONALD TRUMP FOR CHEATING MULTIPLE TIMES IN THIS ELECTION, HE CHEATED THIS WHOLE TIME PLEASE LIKE + RETWEET 🔁 DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY WITH THIS
In October 2024, the Lincoln Project produced a video advertisement promoting the BlueAnon theory that Silicon Valley executives were plotting to replace Trump with JD Vance as president of the United States, should Trump be elected to that office.[6]
The following month, in the 12 hours after Trump's declared victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, posts to X alleging electoral irregularities and questioning the disparity in vote totals between the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections — which WIRED associated with BlueAnon theorizing — peaked at 94,000 per hour.[3] It included one post by John Pavlovitz that received more than five million views.[3] Another post, seen more than 17 million times, alleged Trump "cheated this whole time".[10]
According to Canadian political scientist Kawser Ahmed, Threads is a "hotbed for BlueAnon conspiratorial content".[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Ingram, Matthew (July 17, 2024). "The Trump assassination attempt, 'BlueAnon,' and the X factor". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ Lorenz, Taylor (November 10, 2024). "'BlueAnon' conspiracy theories flood social media after Trump rally shooting". Washington Post. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c Gilbert, David (November 6, 2024). "Election Denial Conspiracy Theories Are Exploding on X. This Time They're Coming From the Left". WIRED. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ Milmo, Dan (July 15, 2024). "Trump shooting shows conspiracy theories not confined to right wing". The Guardian. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
Conspiracy theories emanating from people with leftwing or liberal leanings have given rise to the term "Blueanon", in reference to the blue Democratic party. The term is a derivation of "QAnon", the baseless pro-Trump, rightwing conspiracy theory that a world-controlling satanic elite is operating a child abuse ring.
- ^ Ahmari, Sohrab (July 15, 2024). "The alarming rise of BlueAnon". New Statesman. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Ward, Ian (October 7, 2024). "The anti-Trump conspiracy that's sweeping the internet". Politico. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ Liles, Jordan (August 1, 2024). "Fake Photo of Trump, Gunman Thomas Crooks Planning Assassination Attempt Generated by AI". Snopes. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ Kasprak, Alex (July 26, 2024). "Rumor That Shards of Glass, Not Bullet, Injured Trump in Assassination Attempt Is False". Snopes. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ Sanders, Katie (July 15, 2024). "When Donald Trump was shot, the internet unleashed wild conspiracy theories". Politifact. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "'BlueAnon' conspiracy theorists spread viral voter fraud claims after Trump victory". France24. November 10, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ Silverman, Rose (July 16, 2024). "How the American Left jumped on the conspiracy theory bandwagon". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- ^ Merlan, Anna (August 11, 2022). "Resistance Twitter Is Trading Bonkers Theories About Ivana Trump's Casket". Vice. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- ^ Springtrap [@Espaking2] (November 6, 2024). "HERE'S A THREAD EXPOSING DONALD TRUMP FOR CHEATING MULTIPLE TIMES IN THIS ELECTION, HE CHEATED THIS WHOLE TIME PLEASE LIKE + RETWEET DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY WITH THIS" (Tweet). Archived from the original on November 6, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ Ahmed, Kawser (July 18, 2024). "How conspiracy theories polarize society and provoke violence". The Conversation. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
Many might associate conspiracy theories with far-right politics. However, radicalization scholars have observed that "a more conspiratorial mindset has become more pronounced in liberal circles over the last eight months." Meta's Threads has become a hotbed for BlueAnon conspiratorial content, demonstrating that conspiracy theories are not confined to any single political spectrum.
Further reading
[edit]- Huggins, Katherine (July 18, 2024). "BlueAnon clout chasers push wild new Trump theory: What if shooting was an Eminem 'Stan'-type thing?". The Daily Dot. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- Duke, Amber (September 12, 2024). "The rise of BlueAnon". The Spectator. Retrieved November 11, 2024.