Why MAGA buys Trump's Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool hoax - Salon.com
salon.com
When followers already trust a leader, motivated reasoning turns even a debunked hoax into "proof" — and this viral Trump/Reflecting Pool claim shows exactly how that works.
Motivated ReasoningConfirmation BiasIllusory Truth EffectIn-Group Bias
Theory Briefing
- A viral claim about the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool spread widely among MAGA supporters despite being labeled a hoax.
- Commenters reacted with outrage over alleged vandalism of White House property, illustrating how emotional framing bypasses fact-checking.
- Motivated reasoning theory explains why in-group loyalty causes people to accept false claims that confirm their existing beliefs.