The facts didn't fit Trump's California conspiracy theory. So he just adjusted the conspiracy theory
cnn.com
When facts contradict a conspiracy theory, believers don't abandon it — they reshape it, and Trump's California election claims are a textbook case of motivated reasoning in action.
Motivated ReasoningBackfire EffectConspiracy Theory ResilienceCognitive Dissonance
Theory Briefing
- Trump claimed California primary results were rigged against Republicans, despite no evidence supporting the allegation.
- When specific facts contradicted his narrative, Trump simply shifted the conspiracy's goalposts rather than dropping it.
- This pattern mirrors the Backfire Effect, where disconfirming evidence strengthens rather than weakens false beliefs.