Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th president of the United States, has created or promoted many deceptive or disproven conspiracy theories, to a degree unprecedented in American politics.
Conspiracy theories
Attacks on political opponents
Barack and Michelle Obama Conspiracy theories about the citizenship of Barack Obama, aka "Birtherism", later retractedHaberman, Maggie; Rappeport, Alan (September 16, 2016). "Trump Drops False 'Birther' Theory, but Floats a New One: Clinton Started It". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2021. Theory that Bill Ayers wrote Obama's memoir Dreams from My Father False claims of fraud in the 2012 election Pushed conspiracy theory that Obama supported ISIS Claim that Obama secretly controlled the Biden administration False accusation that Obama and other officials committed "treason" against himIn July 2025, while attempting various diversions from pressure to release the Epstein Files, Trump revived some old conspiracy theories and characterized them anew as accusations that former President Barack Obama and other officials had engaged in "treason", which prompted a rare response from the office of the former president. Eric Tucker, Chris Megerian, Trump’s treason claims against Obama and others prompt a rare response from the former president, The Associated Press, July 22, 2025; quote: “Our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response”, said Patrick Rodenbush, an Obama spokesman. “But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.” Shared a video from Alex Jones that had a caption claiming that “Michelle Obama may have used Biden’s autopen in the final days of his administration to pardon key individuals”.
Bill and Hillary Clinton False accusation that Hillary Clinton started the birther conspiracy theory Clinton body count conspiracy theory Retweeted the false accusation that Jeffrey Epstein's death was arranged by Bill Clinton. Said at CPAC on February 27, 2015, when asked about his thoughts about Bill Clinton: "Nice guy, got a lot of problems coming up in my opinion with the famous island with Jeffrey Epstein, a lot of problems." (Remarks start at 22:50) Support of the Pizzagate conspiracy theory and portrayals of the Clintons as pedophiles Suicide of Vince Foster Murder of Seth Rich Claimed that Hillary Clinton gave uranium rights to Russia in exchange for donations to the Clinton Foundation Claimed that Hillary Clinton "meets in secret with international banks to plot the destruction of U.S. sovereignty" Clinton plan intelligence conspiracy theory claims that Hillary Clinton made false claims connecting Trump to Russian interference.
Ted Cruz Assassination of John F. Kennedy – alleged Rafael Cruz, the father of Texas Senator and Republican presidential candidate for the 2016 elections Ted Cruz, had ties to Lee Harvey Oswald. Trump later stated that he did not actually believe the story."Fox Host Regrets Not Pressing Trump When He Linked Cruz's Dad To Oswald" , Talking Points Memo (May 5, 2016).
Joe and Hunter Biden Biden–Ukraine conspiracy theory Osama bin Laden death conspiracy theories, explicitly claiming Biden and Obama staged killing with body double, and may have had SEAL Team 6 killed Hunter Biden laptop controversy and China business dealings conspiracy theory Hunter Biden cocaine conspiracy theory, specifically relating to the cocaine found in the White House in July 2023 Baseless accusation that Joe Biden is being controlled by "People that you've never heard of, people that are in the dark shadows." False accusation that the Biden administration had been ready to kill him during the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago False accusation that disaster relief agency FEMA spent money on housing illegal immigrants, leaving it unable to fund hurricane disaster response. Claimed that the Biden administration directed federal agencies to bribe news organizations for positive coverage Shared a post that Biden was executed in 2020 and replaced by a robotic clone Claimed that the Epstein files are falsified documents created by his political opponents, such as the Biden administration.
Kamala Harris Harris citizenship conspiracy theories Accused Harris of paying celebrities for endorsements, including Bruce Springsteen, Oprah Winfrey, and Bono, falsely claiming that $11 million was paid to Beyoncé
Joe Scarborough Joe Scarborough conspiracy theory
Others Claimed that Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau was secretly the son of Cuban leader Fidel Castro Posted a screenshot of a story claiming that Nikki Haley was disqualified from being president Spread false conspiracy theories about the attack on Paul Pelosi, suggesting it could have been staged Suggested that Ruth Bader Ginsburg's dying wish may have been manufactured by the Democratic political leadership in Congress Claimed that the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack had "deleted and destroyed all the evidence" Said that James Comey "was calling for the assassination of the president" when he posted an image of seashells spelling "86 47" Reposted a false claim on Truth Social asserting that Tim Walz was connected to the 2025 shootings of Minnesota legislators. Suggested that Ilhan Omar staged a syringe spraying attack in a town hall meeting, saying "she probably had herself sprayed, knowing her".
Claims about clandestine opposition
Deep State Claims of a "deep state" conspiracy resisting Trump administration objectives and proper prosecution of Trump foes
QAnon Expressions of support for QAnon adherents
Antifa
Claiming those resisting authoritarianism and fascism in the USA are led by an organization identified as "Antifa", an abbreviation for anti-fascism Attribution of Buffalo police shoving incident to antifa Claimed that a plane full of "thugs in dark uniforms", implying antifa, had recently flown from one unidentified city to another with the intention of fomenting riots
Anarchists Retweeted a One America News Network tweet that ongoing George Floyd protests constituted a "coup attempt" that was "led by a well funded network of anarchists".
Russian interference, Robert Mueller investigation deflections
Allegations of Obama spying on Trump, including Spygate and Trump Tower wiretapping allegations Allegations of Hillary Clinton spying on Trump Russiagate hoax. Trump and his defenders have used terms like "Russia hoax", "Russian collusion hoax", and "Russiagate hoax" to delegitimize accusations and investigations of alleged impropriety, cooperation, collusion, or conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the government, officials, and intelligence agencies of Russia. They assert that such accusations are a hoax perpetrated against Trump by his critics and that he is the victim of a witch hunt. Trump and his supporters have produced no evidence of such a hoax. The "hoax" accusation has been debunked by numerous sources and is contradicted by investigative findings of what "the president, members of his campaign and his associates actually did". Pursued the theory that Ukraine, rather than Russia, interfered in the 2016 election
2016, 2020, 2024 and 2026 election claims
Voter conspiracy theories, repeatedly since 2016 Claimed he won the popular vote during the 2016 presidential election, saying "I think there was tremendous cheating in California, there was tremendous cheating in New York and other places". Claimed that Google manipulated votes in the 2016 election Cited an unverified report that between three and five million non-citizens voted in the 2016 elections Claimed that videos produced by James O'Keefe proved Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama had "hired people" and "paid them $1,500" to "be violent, cause fights, [and] do bad things" at Trump rallies. Tweeted that Google results were "RIGGED" against him, 2018. Trump's false claim of a stolen election, 2020; Stop the Steal and other attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election Italygate, 2020 Tweeted about a conspiracy theory that voting machines made by Dominion Voting Systems had deleted millions of Trump votes. Referred to the first release of the Twitter Files, 2022, as proof of "Big Tech companies, the DNC, & the Democrat Party" rigging the 2020 United States presidential election against him, declaring that "the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution" was necessary. Claimed that the 2026 California primary elections were rigged. Joked that if the U.S. lost to Belgium without Balogun, he would say the World Cup match was rigged, just like the 2020 election was rigged.
Claims of corrupt science, medicine, and statistics Claimed COVID-19 deaths systematically overcounted Allegations of collusion between Anthony Fauci and the pharmaceutical industry Claims that Bill Gates and Anthony Fauci profited from COVID-19 vaccinations Global warming conspiracy theory, claimed that "The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive." Hurricane Maria death toll controversy Claimed Mob responsible for movement against asbestos Frequent claims that Vaccines cause autism: tweeted "Healthy young child goes to doctor, gets pumped with massive shot of many vaccines, doesn't feel good and changes - AUTISM. Many such cases!" Tweeted, "I am being proven right about massive vaccinations—the doctors lied. Save our children & their future" and that parents "know far better than fudged-up reports." At Republican debate, claimed "Just the other day, two years old, 2½ years old, a child, a beautiful child went to have the vaccine, and came back, and a week later got a tremendous fever, got very, very sick, now is autistic." Claimed that wind turbines cause cancer Accused Erika McEntarfer of rigging labor statistics for political reasons to make him look bad, and had her fired.
Claims about national, ethnic, religious or racial groups Great replacement conspiracy theory, alleging that non-white immigrants from Latin America are seeking to displace American citizens in areas of employment, housing, and education. Tweeted infographic falsely stating that whites killed by blacks constitute 81% of crime, citing the nonexistent "Crime Statistics Bureau — San Francisco" Alleged actions by Muslims as claimed by Britain First Claimed to have witnessed Muslims in Jersey City cheering the 9/11 terrorist attack Syrian refugee as ISIS members conspiracy Mexican government forces criminals across border White genocide conspiracy theory Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio eating cats and dogs Claimed that ISIS members were hiding within the Central American migrant caravans
Claims of paid protesters Suggested violent protesters were being funded by "some very stupid rich people" Alleging that antifa activists were being funded by Democrats, George Soros or "other people". Claimed that protesters against his crackdown in Washington D.C. were paid by the Democrats Accused California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of paying protesters in Los Angeles. Repeated a claim that Renée Good was part of a “left-wing network” of paid agitators trying “to incite violence” against ICE and federal agents in Minneapolis. Accused protesters outside the Delaney Hall private prison of being paid protesters, saying "These aren’t protesters. These people are fake."
Claims about George Soros
That Soros was backing the protests against Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination. That Soros funded the Central American migrant caravans heading toward the United States. That district attorney Alvin Bragg was "bought and paid for" by Soros.
Questioning terrorism 9/11 conspiracy theories