"Propaganda Shift": Unraveling the Progression of Far-Right Conspiracy Theories Linking the Minnesota Shooting to MAGA Movement's Protection
In the wake of Vance Boelter's arrest for the fatal shootings of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, far-right conspiracy theorists and Republican influencers came up with wild, unfounded accusations. Elon Musk, for instance, labeled all leftists as "murderously violent," on X.
Once the facts of the story emerged – Boelter's voting history indicating support for President Donald Trump and his participation in an evangelical ministry against abortion and LGBTQ community – theconspiracies didn't cease. Instead, they shifted gears, with posters claiming the incident was a false flag orchestrated by the deep state, distancing Boelter from the MAGA movement.
Over the past few years, following politically-motivated violence, the far-right has been notorious for portraying perpetrators as leftists, antifa members, LGBTQ individuals, or Democrats, despite substantial evidence pointing to the extremist violence being predominantly far-right in nature.
During the manhunt, conservatives alleged that Boelter had connections to Minnesota governor Tim Walz. However, there was little evidence to suggest a closer link between the pair, as Boelter had only been reappointed to a Workforce Development Board by Walz in 2019. This speculation did, unfortunately, trend on X, with right-wing influencers asserting confidently that Boelter was indeed a Democrat.
Right-wing commentator Mike Cernovich wrote on X, "Did Walz have her executed?" while YouTuber Benny Johnson posited the shooting as part of a left-wing violence trend. Donald Trump Jr. suggested Boelter was a Democrat during an interview with News Nation, stating, "I'll believe that when I see it."
David Carlson, Boelter's childhood friend, dismissally stated he would be offended if people called him a Democrat, as Boelter's actions spoke otherwise.
It is essential to note, at this point, that there is no credible evidence supporting Boelter's political leanings towards the Democratic or far-left parties. All available reports focus on Boelter's crimes and the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
Boelter is accused of impersonating a police officer, shooting legislators Melissa and Mark Hortman, as well as attacking Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. He was captured after an extensive manhunt and has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder. A "manifesto" was recovered from the scene, listing lawmakers and Planned Parenthood locations as potential targets, but it does not tie Boelter to any specific political ideology.
Claims about Boelter’s political affiliations,especially without concrete evidence, are not substantiated by current reporting. Authorities have focused on his actions and evidence gathered at the scene, providing no indication that his political ideology had a role in the investigation.
- Despite a lack of evidence, right-wing influencers confidently asserted that Vance Boelter, the accused shooter of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, was a Democrat.
- In the midst of the manhunt for Boelter, conservatives like right-wing commentator Mike Cernovich questioned whether Minnesota governor Tim Walz had a hand in the Hortmans' execution.
- Despite Boelter's voting history indicating support for President Donald Trump and his participation in an evangelical ministry against abortion and LGBTQ community, unfounded conspiracy theories suggesting a link between Boelter and the far-left continue to trend on social media.
- As Boelter's childhood friend David Carlson dismissively stated, there is no credible evidence supporting Boelter's political leanings towards the Democratic or far-left parties.
- In the wake of Boelter's arrest, AI-generated newsletters have been circulating, claiming Boelter to be a leftist or a member of the antifa movement, distancing him from the MAGA movement – claims that are unsupported by the current reporting on the incident.
