Wild conspiracy theories have taken over social media after shots were fired at former US President and Republican candidate Donald Trump during his rally in Pennsylvania. While many have shown their support for Trump, others have questioned if the entire shooting could have been “staged”.

Theories like the assassination attempt was an “inside job” have emerged on the Internet with videos. A social media posted a video on X showing Secret Service officers moving closer to Trump seconds before the gunshots were fired.

“Rumors are circulating that the Trump assassination attempt was an inside job after the release of this angle. Pay attention to what the secret service agent does seconds before,” said social media user Matt Wallace posted on X (previously Twitter).

Many are also sharing an interview of a Trump supporter who attended the rally, saying he had alerted the secret service of a person with a rifle on a roof close to the rally, but they didn’t act. It is being questioned why the secret service didn’t respond to the threat despite being alerted.

“When 2-3 minutes prior they alerted police and secret service looked at them and let it happen,” another social media user posted.

“This BBC interview with a guy outside the security perimeter who claims he saw the shooter before he fired is absolutely wild,” said another post on X.

‘Shooter Was a Registered Republican’

The US security agencies have identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. State voter records show that Crooks was a registered Republican, media reports said. He was shot dead by the Secret Service.

Many on the social media claim that a Trump supporter “had to die” for the former President to become a “hero”. “Some poor dumb Trump supporter literally dying while Trump gets praise for taking a bullet that didn’t hit him that was fired by his own party perfectly sums up the entire 8 years of the Trump experience,” said a post on X.

Many shared an old video from 2016 where security personnel could be seen taking Trump away on the mention of disturbing elements in the crowd, along with the video of the Pennsylvania rally.

“If you can’t see the difference between this video and what just happened today, consider this: who just stands there and raises their hands after an assassination attempt. Notice the lack of urgency compared to the second clip, and pay close attention to the crowd,” said a social media user.

On Saturday, gunfire erupted in the midst of Trump’s speech, prompting him to cover his right ear before Secret Service agents tackled him to the ground. Moments later, Trump stood up, instructed his security detail to “wait,” and raised his fist, urging the shaken crowd to “fight.” A senior law enforcement source told The Post, “He came within inches of having his face shot open.”

At least one attendee was killed, and two others were critically injured, the Secret Service reported.