Trumps Second Term: Supporters Demand Answers Amid Ongoing Conspiracy Theories

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump pledged to supporters during his 2024 campaign that voting him back into the presidency would be “our final battle” against the “deep state.” He promised to “demolish the deep state” and “liberate our country from these tyrants and villains once and for all.” Four months into his second term, Trump continues to promote dark theories involving his predecessors and other powerful politicians, most recently questioning former President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen to sign papers. The administration has pledged to reopen investigations and has declassified certain documents, including over 63,000 pages related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. However, many of Trump’s supporters feel these actions are insufficient.

Some supporters are growing restless, demanding evidence and retribution for alleged government secrets. The Justice Department has not arrested the expected hordes of “deep state” actors, despite Trump’s cryptic videos and memes about Democratic politicians. Conservative commentator Damani Felder expressed frustration, stating, “We actually demand answers and real transparency. It’s not that hard to deliver.”

Trump has long promised to dismantle the “deep state,” a supposed secret network manipulating government decisions. Now in power, his supporters expect revelations, though many of the alleged conspiracies are unproven. The president has taken steps such as firing federal workers, installing loyalists, and targeting disfavored law firms. However, his administration has not gone as far as some supporters hoped, particularly regarding figures like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former FBI Director James Comey.

Tensions rose when FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino, dismissed popular conspiracy theories involving Jeffrey Epstein’s death and Trump’s attempted assassination. Patel and Bongino stated that Epstein’s death was a suicide and that there was no government plot behind Trump’s assassination attempt. Conservatives demanded evidence, referencing past statements by Bongino suggesting government cover-ups.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the FBI would release more materials related to Epstein once steps were taken to protect victims. Bongino and Patel also said they would investigate cases like the planting of pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters on Jan. 6, 2021, and the leak of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson draft opinion. However, these actions did not satisfy all conspiracy theorists.

Trump continues to promote conspiracy theories on his Truth Social platform, sharing videos and images linking mysterious deaths to the Clinton family and alleging that Biden’s use of an autopen indicates a cover-up. Despite holding power, Trump’s administration has yet to provide concrete answers, leading to skepticism among his supporters.