Trump to speak on elections in primetime address after pushing debunked conspiracies
nbcphiladelphia.com
Trump is set to address elections in primetime while pushing debunked 2020 conspiracies — raising the question of how false beliefs survive and spread through political movements.
Backfire EffectElite Cue TheorySocial Identity TheoryAgenda-Setting Theory
Theory Briefing
- Trump's primetime address on elections follows his repeated promotion of debunked conspiracy theories about his 2020 loss to Joe Biden.
- The speech coincides with escalating pressure on Republicans to pass tighter federal election laws, linking the narrative directly to policy action.
- Repeated exposure to a false claim — even after debunking — can entrench belief, especially when the claim serves a political identity.
- The move illustrates how a leader can use a high-visibility platform to keep a contested narrative alive and drive legislative momentum.