Pointing at the FBI, Trump clings to one of his more outlandish Jan. 6 conspiracy theories
ms.now
When even your own handpicked loyalist contradicts you, Trump's Jan. 6 FBI conspiracy theory is a masterclass in motivated reasoning refusing to die.
Motivated ReasoningConspiracy Theory PersistenceBackfire EffectElite Cue Theory
Theory Briefing
- Trump continues blaming FBI infiltrators for Jan. 6, a claim his own FBI Director Kash Patel felt compelled to publicly clarify.
- Motivated reasoning explains why debunking a conspiracy theory by insiders often strengthens believers' conviction rather than dissolving it.
- Patel, a former podcast personality chosen for his partisan alignment, undercutting the theory signals how far outside evidence it has drifted.