Trump’s Return to Power Elevates Ever Fringier Conspiracy Theories

In recent years, conspiracy theories that once resided on the fringes of American political discourse have moved to the forefront, gaining influence and even becoming part of the mainstream political narrative. Ideas that were previously dismissed as fringe beliefs — such as questioning the Earth’s roundness, despite it being a fact known since ancient Greece — are now finding a platform in the political arena. In states like Georgia and Minnesota, figures who espouse such beliefs are now leading local Republican parties, and in Alabama, they are actively seeking public office.

A notable example of this trend is a far-right activist who, despite extensive evidence to the contrary, maintains that the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, were an orchestrated inside job by the U.S. government. This individual marked last year’s anniversary of the attacks alongside President Trump, signaling a troubling normalization of such theories within mainstream politics.

The phenomenon extends to federal government leadership. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, publicly announced the agency’s support for a controversial fight against so-called chemtrails — the debunked notion that the white condensation trails left behind by airplanes are laced with toxic chemicals or serve as tools for covert government operations.

These conspiracy theories, which once circulated only in obscure online forums, are now being echoed by individuals in positions of power, lending them newfound credibility. Trump, in particular, has played a central role in promoting such narratives, going so far as to appoint proponents of these theories to key governmental positions, effectively giving these fringe ideas a direct line to policy-making.

Joseph E. Uscinski, a professor at the University of Miami specializing in the study of conspiracy theories, emphasizes the danger of such narratives gaining traction among policymakers. “If an average citizen believes the Earth is flat, it’s largely inconsequential,” he said. “But when those beliefs are held by people in positions of power, the consequences can be far-reaching and potentially harmful.”

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly countered criticism by asserting that mainstream media has consistently misrepresented Trump as extreme throughout his political career, insisting that his policies are rooted in “common sense.”

Nevertheless, debunked theories about election fraud, vaccines, and other topics have steadily permeated mainstream discourse over the past five years. For instance, QAnon, a movement that asserts the existence of a global sex-trafficking ring allegedly run by the so-called deep state, gained such prominence that at one point it was as widely recognized in the U.S. as major religious groups.

Yet, some of the most troubling theories now being entertained by influential figures were once relegated to the farthest margins of public debate. Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, whom some have dubbed the “unelected co-president,” have both suggested, without any supporting evidence, that the U.S. Treasury’s gold reserves in Fort Knox might have been stolen — a claim that current and former Treasury officials have categorically denied.

Another example is Anna Paulina Luna, a second-term Republican congresswoman from Florida and a staunch Trump ally. She has publicly claimed that there were two shooters involved in the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, a theory that contradicts the findings of multiple official investigations and the recent release of 64,000 related documents. Despite the lack of evidence, Luna now leads a congressional task force examining the declassification of federal documents and has pledged to probe a range of conspiracy-related topics, including 9/11, the Covid-19 pandemic, and Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged client list.

Equally concerning is Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a well-known proponent of conspiracy theories involving topics as diverse as 9/11, school shootings, and even claims that Jewish space lasers started wildfires. Greene is now contemplating a run for either the Senate or the governorship, despite previously being rebuked by then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who labeled her conspiracy-laden rhetoric as a “cancer” on the Republican Party and the country.

Cynthia S. Wang, a professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, explains that conspiracy theories are flourishing in the current media landscape. Social media platforms, she notes, foster echo chambers that amplify extreme content, while chaotic news cycles rife with disasters and political upheavals make these narratives more enticing. “People are seeking explanations for the inexplicable, and those in power are seizing the opportunity to exploit that uncertainty,” Wang said.

John Llewellyn, a communication professor at Wake Forest University, further elaborates that conspiracy theories serve as a rhetorical sleight of hand for politicians. By drawing attention to fantastical threats, such as the alleged dangers of chemtrails, policymakers can offer symbolic solutions that distract from more pressing, complex issues such as healthcare reform or economic instability.

This strategy is not without consequences. According to a study co-authored by Uscinski, the correlation between support for political violence and belief in conspiracy theories has tripled over the past decade. The researchers attribute this trend to rising political polarization, decreasing trust in institutions, and the amplification of conspiratorial rhetoric by figures like Trump.

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a nonpartisan think tank, has documented a series of violent incidents involving perpetrators influenced by conspiracy theories about chemtrails, election fraud, and the pandemic. One case involved a man who, driven by his belief in anti-government conspiracies, murdered and then beheaded his father, a former federal employee.

Efforts to counteract the rise of conspiracy theories face mounting obstacles. The National Science Foundation recently terminated several grants supporting research into misinformation, signaling a troubling retreat from efforts to address the problem.

Looking ahead, the scope of conspiracy theories gaining traction appears to be expanding. Angelo Carusone, president of Media Matters, warns that the next wave of misinformation may center around demonic forces — a theme increasingly invoked by figures like Trump, who recently described Democrats as a “very demonic party.”

With conspiracy narratives now woven into the fabric of mainstream political discourse, the line between fringe speculation and actionable policy has become increasingly blurred. For many Americans, the fevered rhetoric of conspiracy theorists is no longer confined to obscure corners of the internet — it is playing out at the highest levels of government.