Trump spins baseless tale of ‘thugs’ flying to protests

President Donald Trump is recycling a baseless conspiracy ory to claim that recent protests have been orchestrated by powerful people in “dark shadows” intent on undermining his reelection prospects.

claims first took root on Facebook and Twitter earlier this year after racial justice protests swelled across country following deaths of Black Americans in police custody. Thousands of social media users shared posts suggesting a covert network was coordinating protests and rioters were descending on communities across country.

Trump appeared to amplify those unfounded conspiracy ories in an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham that aired Monday night, suggesting that protests in Washington during Republican National Convention were orchestrated by unspecified forces.

“We had somebody get on a plane from a certain city this weekend. And in plane, it was almost completely loaded with thugs wearing se dark uniforms, black uniforms with gear and this and that,” said Trump, adding that matter is under investigation.

When asked by reporters Tuesday for additional details on his assertion, Trump said someone else witnessed activity and he would have to check to see if that person was willing to speak with news media.

president has a history of elevating online conspiracy ories from his powerful podium, sometimes amplifying Twitter posts to his 85.6 million followers or dropping references to debunked claims in interviews and appearances. As vember election approaches, he's been particularly focused on unproven tion that widespread protests against racist policing are being coordinated and driven by shadowy forces intent on defeating him.

Trump is picking up on unproven conspiracy ories that began spreading earlier this year during protests for racial justice. One of first public Facebook posts suggesting a similar conspiracy ory appears to have been made in May when Idaho resident Russell D. Wade wrote on Facebook that a plane was transporting protesters from Seattle to Boise, Idaho.

“Be ready for attacks downtown and residential areas,” Wade wrote in a post that has been shared more than 3,500 times. Wade, who lost a bid for local sheriff earlier this year, urged his followers to arm mselves. A social media mess sent to Wade on Tuesday was t immediately returned.

Local police departments from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Payette County, Idaho, were forced to kck down similar social media rumors in June that “busloads” of rioters were coming to town. Or social media posts claimed that throngs of “antifa,” a term for leftist militants, were plotting to violently disrupt cities and towns.

In Michigan, a limousine businessman had to refute online rumors that his buses were purchased by liberal financier George Soros to coordinate protests after Facebook users manipulated ims of his white charter buses to show words “Soros Riot Dance Squad” emblazoned on sides.

In Facebook and Twitter posts earlier this summer, Trump also blamed antifa for violence that broke out during racial justice protests. But an Associated Press analysis of court records, employment histories and social media posts for 217 people arrested in Minneapolis and District of Columbia, cities at center of protests earlier this year, found evidence that only a few of those arrested indicated y were involved in left-leaning activities. A few ors expressed support for political right and Trump himself.

Trump’s allies have ramped up ir efforts to push similar uncorroborated ories over past week.

During Republican National Convention, his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani claimed that “Black Lives Matter and antifa sprang into action” and “hijacked” peaceful protests. Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky called on FBI to investigate protests outside of RNC in Washington last week, describing it as “an organized interstate racket.”

“y need to be arrested, questioned,” said Paul, who had to be escorted to his hotel during final night of convention. “ bills need to be subpoenaed by a judge to say, who paid for your bill? How did you get here on a plane, and staying in a fancy hotel, and yet you’re acting like a criminal?”

messaging from president and his GOP supporters is aimed at building up fear among voters in hopes of driving m to cast a ballot in president’s favor this fall, said Jennifer Mercieca, a professor at Texas A&M University who studies what she calls Trump’s “rhetorical genius.”

“Everything is on line, you have to be sure to vote,” Mercieca said in summing up mess. “y’re out to get you and destroy American way of life. y’re already here … just a short plane ride away. y’re scary, y wear black.”