Trump says LA mayor election 'rigged' as CNN calls claim 'dumbest conspiracy theory'
al.com
Trump's "rigged election" claim in LA's mayoral race is a textbook case of how conspiracy thinking persists even when the alleged motive runs backward against the accused.
Conspiracy TheoryMotivated ReasoningBackfire Effect
Theory Briefing
- Trump called the LA mayoral election rigged, despite analysts noting the result actually went against Democratic establishment preferences.
- CNN's rebuttal highlights how the conspiracy theory collapses under its own logic — the supposed riggers backed the losing candidate.
- The episode illustrates how motivated reasoning fuels election-fraud narratives even when concrete evidence contradicts the claim.