Conspiracy theories claim Trump assassination attempt was a set-up — here’s why

Politics
28 Apr 2026 • 11:30 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Conspiracy theories claim Trump assassination attempt was a set-up — here’s why

Watch as The Independent asks former Secret Service agents and a former FBI chief to break down the response following the attempted assassination at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday (25 April).

Theories quickly spread online, with some claiming the incident was a set-up. Users questioned why JD Vance’s security appeared prioritised over Donald Trump, and why the president seemed slow to respond.

In the latest episode of Debunked, experts explain what actually happened — and whether those claims hold up.

Watch the full video to hear their analysis.