Joe Rogan Blames TikTok for 1-in-3 Democrats Doubting Trump Assassination Attempts
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 15
Joe Rogan Blames TikTok for 1-in-3 Democrats Doubting Trump Assassination Attempts
5 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 15
Joe Rogan said TikTok and other social-media algorithms are driving conspiracy thinking after survey data showed many Americans believe at least one attempt on Donald Trump was staged or are unsure.
NewsGuard data cited by The Washington Post found roughly 1 in 3 Democrats said the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting was staged, versus about 1 in 8 Republicans; adults 18 to 29 were also more likely to doubt it.
On the July 2024 Butler, Pennsylvania shooting, 24% of respondents said it was staged, including 42% of Democrats and 7% of Republicans.
Rogan argued the Butler attack could not plausibly have been faked, pointing to firefighter Corey Comperatore’s death and a photo appearing to show a bullet passing Trump’s face.
The discussion also highlighted lingering online speculation about gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, with Rogan saying the sparse public record around him has fed suspicion.
How do social media algorithms shape public belief in major news events, and can platforms realistically curb the spread of conspiracy theories?
What psychological and societal factors make some people more likely to believe in staged events, even when evidence contradicts these views?
Could stricter digital literacy education or algorithm reforms reverse the normalization of distrust and misinformation among younger generations?