Poll Reveals Mixed Beliefs on Trump’s Assassination Attempts

A recent poll conducted by NewsGuard and YouGov has shown that about 30% of Americans think at least one of the assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump was “staged.” The survey, which included 1,000 participants, aimed to gauge public perceptions regarding three specific incidents: the Butler shooting in Pennsylvania in 2024, an occurrence at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course that same year, and the latest one at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner a few weeks ago.

Regarding the Butler incident, where a bullet narrowly missed Trump’s head, 47% of respondents believed it was a legitimate attempt on his life. Interestingly, 29% were uncertain, while 24% thought it was entirely fabricated.

In the case of the September 2024 event at Trump International Golf Club, views were somewhat similar—48% considered it a real assassination attempt. Meanwhile, 36% were unsure, and 16% believed it was staged. This attempt was interrupted, leading to the arrest and conviction of Ryan Routh for attempted assassination.

For the most recent incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, 45% of those surveyed thought it was a real attempt, with 32% expressing uncertainty and around 24% believing it was staged.

Interestingly, 21% of Democrats felt that all three attempts were staged, which is a significantly higher percentage than the overall 12% of Americans who shared that view. Among the 12% believing all three were faked, 55% identified as Democrats, 38% as independents, and only 7% as Republicans.

Democrats were most likely to perceive the Butler shooting, which resulted in the death of rallygoer Corey Comperatore, as a hoax—42% thought it was staged. Similarly, 34% believed the shooting at the WHCD was faked, compared to 26% regarding the incident at Trump International Golf Club.

This investigation took place from April 28 to May 4, right after other assassination attempts targeting Trump and various officials, which were outlined in a manifesto attributed to the suspect.

Cole Allen, who is linked to the assassination attempt, stated in his manifesto that he specifically targeted senior government officials, excluding FBI Director Kash Patel. He also mentioned in his writings the potential targeting of the audience, should it be necessary, highlighting a troubling mindset.

Speaking at a press conference following the recent assassination attempt, Trump addressed why such incidents seem to happen to him. “They don’t go after people who don’t do much, because they like it,” he remarked. He added that influential individuals often face such threats, suggesting a somewhat complex relationship with notoriety.