There have been two assassination attempts on US President Donald Trump, including an incident at the Correspondents' Dinner in late April where shots were fired. However, many Americans do not believe these incidents were genuine assassination attempts. According to a survey by NewsGuard, which evaluates the credibility of news sources, nearly a third of surveyed Americans think at least one of the incidents was fake.
The survey, which questioned 1,000 US citizens, found that a majority are uncertain whether an actual assassination attempt occurred. In July 2024, Trump narrowly survived a campaign event in Pennsylvania after being shot in the ear. Twenty-four percent of respondents do not believe it was an assassination attempt, while another 29 percent are unsure.
Another incident occurred two months later when an assassination attempt was thwarted outside Trump's golf club in Florida. Here, 16 percent do not believe the official account, while 36 percent are uncertain. The circumstances surrounding the shots fired at the Correspondents' Dinner remain unclear, and the alleged shooter has pleaded not guilty. Nearly a quarter of respondents also doubt that this was an assassination attempt, with another third unsure.
Supporters of the party express skepticism. More than one in five believe that all three assassination attempts were staged. Distrust is highest regarding the incident in Pennsylvania, which Trump used to his advantage during the campaign. Young people, in particular, do not believe the official narrative of the incidents. The United States is more divided than ever before.
