“Biden DOJ and FBI Were Planning to Assassinate Trump” Giuliani and Greene’s Claims Stir Controversy
REUTERS/Amr Alfiky
Rudy Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor, and mayor of New York City, shared a swiftly debunked conspiracy theory on Tuesday, alleging that routine language in a new court filing indicated that President Joe Biden was plotting to assassinate former President Donald Trump. This assertion added fuel to the fire of an already controversial claim made by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).
Giuliani took to X late Tuesday night to amplify Greene’s earlier statement regarding newly revealed language in Trump’s Mar-a-Lago search warrant about the use of deadly force. Greene had claimed that she “knew” of an assassination plot orchestrated by Biden’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), and she purportedly warned Trump about it.
Greene wrote, “The Biden DOJ and FBI were planning to assassinate Pres Trump and gave the green light. I made sure that he knew.”
Former FBI Assistant Director Frank Figliuzzi was among several officials who immediately and publicly fact-checked the claim. He clarified, “Every FBI operations order contains a reminder of FBI deadly force policy. Even for a search warrant. Deadly force is always authorized if the required threat presents itself.”
The document in question pertains to the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago in 2022. During this search, Trump was actually in New Jersey, a detail highlighted by a former member of Congress to debunk the assassination plot theory. However, this factual correction did not stop Giuliani’s followers from reacting to his alarming message with fearful warnings about a Biden “dictatorship.”
Interestingly, these fears emerged as Trump faced criticism over a campaign video featuring the words “Unified Reich.” The Biden campaign argued that Trump’s messaging, which his campaign claimed was the result of a staffer’s mistake, was “echoing Nazi Germany.”
Adding to the controversy, Trump’s attorneys have argued in court filings to the Supreme Court that presidential immunity allows U.S. presidents to kill political rivals, further complicating the public discourse around these allegations.
The conspiracy theory promoted by Giuliani and Greene underscores the deep political divisions and the extent to which misinformation can spread. Their claims, despite being quickly debunked by experts and officials, managed to incite fear and distrust among their followers. This incident highlights the importance of fact-checking and responsible communication from public figures, especially regarding serious allegations involving national security and the rule of law.
As these unfounded claims continue to circulate, the broader political environment becomes even more polarized, making it increasingly difficult to focus on substantive issues. The spreading of such conspiracy theories only serves to deepen the divisions within the country, emphasizing the need for a more measured and fact-based approach to political discourse.
