Donald Trump’s riff on medical equipment theft is textbook conspiratorial thinking

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This week, we saw Donald Trump propose the conspiracy theory that hospitals ask for so much medical equipment because of theft. Here’s how this fits with the seven traits of conspiratorial thinking, summarized in Conspiracy Theory Handbook with the acronym CONSPIR.

Contradictory

Coherence or internal consistency is not a priority with conspiracy theorists or science denialists. We see this in one study where conspiracy theorists believed that Princess Diana was murdered while simultaneously believing she faked her own death. Similarly, climate deniers promote contradictory arguments like “global warming isn’t happening” and “global warming is happening but caused by the sun.”

This week, Trump acknowledged the dire nature of the COVID-19 crisis dwelling on freezer trucks as makeshift morgues. In the same press conference, he was bamboozled as to why hospitals suddenly went from needing 10,000 masks to 300,000 masks.

Overriding Suspicion

Conspiratorial thinking involves a nihilistic degree of skepticism towards the official account. Any evidence or explanation that doesn’t fit with the conspiracy theory is dismissed. In the case of Trump’s conspiracy theory about why medical supplies are more needed, the “official explanation” (e.g., reality) is obvious: a catastrophic pandemic. Instead Trump’s instinctive response is to treat health workers – heroically risking their lives daily, reusing masks & buying their own protective equipment – with suspicion.

Nefarious Intent

Conspiracy theorists always assume that the conspirators have nefarious motives. There is never a benign reason for a conspiracy (except perhaps planning a surprise party). Trump went on to elaborate about why hospitals were asking for more medical supplies: “I don’t think it’s hoarding… I think maybe it’s worse than hoarding.” Presumably he thinks health workers are motivated by profit to steal equipment, rather than the actual motive of keeping themselves alive to treat people infected with a contagious disease without getting infected themselves.

Something Must Be Wrong

At the bottom of every conspiracy theory is the rock solid belief that the official account must be wrong. That means that even if they abandon specific ideas when they become untenable, it doesn’t change their conviction that the official account is a deception (with their conspiracy theory being the true explanation). In this case, the “official account” explaining why medical supplies are needed so desperately is the reality that hospitals are now war zones, health workers are on the front line short of equipment, & their “wartime President” fails to support them.

Persecuted Victim

Conspiracy theorists perceive and present themselves as the victim of organized persecution. At the same time, they see themselves as brave antagonists taking on the villainous conspirators. Conspiratorial thinking involves a self-perception of simultaneously being a victim and a hero.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Trump has responded to criticism with blame-shifting & victimhood. He has shirked responsibility while boasting about his outstanding performance. This tendency drives his latest conspiracy theory. Unable to provide sorely needed medical supplies, he deflect criticism of his performance by blaming the shortage on thefts.

Immune to Evidence

Conspiracy theories are inherently self-sealing—evidence that counters a theory is re-interpreted as originating from the conspiracy. This reflects the belief that the stronger the evidence against a conspiracy, the more the conspirators must want people to believe their version of events. When climate scientists’ emails were stolen and held up as evidence of conspiracy and data fabrication, a number of independent investigations were held into the scientists’ conduct. Every time an investigation found no evidence of wrong-doing (and every investigation did come to this conclusion), conspiracy theorists cried “whitewash” and claimed the investigators were part of the conspiracy.

Science denial is a persistent thought pattern. Trump has demonstrated immunity to scientific evidence before on climate change & vaccination. His disdain for science & disregard for facts is being seen clearly now as dangerous & costing lives.

Reinterpreting Randomness

The overriding suspicion found in conspiratorial thinking frequently results in the belief that nothing occurs by accident. Small random events, such as intact windows in the Pentagon after the 9/11 attacks, are re-interpreted as being caused by the conspiracy (because if an airliner had hit the Pentagon, then all windows would have shattered) and are woven into a broader, interconnected pattern. 

Conspiracy theorists reinterpret patterns to fit with their deranged worldview. The spike in needed medical equipment must be due to theft, rather than a nation-wide crisis exacerbated by his downplaying of the problem & slowness to act.

Conspiracy theories & misinformation damage & endanger society, we see this more clearly than ever with COVID-19. Fortunately, there’s a great deal of scientific research into understanding & responding to conspiracy theories, summarized in the Conspiracy Theory Handbook.

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