YouTube Removal of Video Depicting Trump As Gunman
The attempted assassination of ex-President Donald Trump has stirred up a frenzy of wild speculations. With scant details available, people are jumping to conclusions, and one of the most popular targets of these conspiracy theories is the corporate video released by BlackRock, the renowned multinational investment conglomerate.
After the shooting incident, eagle-eyed conspiracy theorists spotted a familiar face in BlackRock's video. On Monday, BlackRock confirmed to CNN that the individual was indeed Thomas Matthew Crooks, the shooter from the weekend's incident. However, the video was swiftly taken down "out of respect for the victims." Gizmodo reached out to BlackRock for more details but, as of yet, has not received a response.
The video in question was a mere 30-second ad promoting BlackRock's management of public school teachers' retirement pensions. Thomas Matthew Crooks, a high school student at the time, made a brief appearance in the video. But the paranoid segments of the MAGA-influenced online community seized this opportunity, claiming that Crooks' appearance in the video was indicative of a sinister plot.
"The Trump shooter in a BlackRock ad...what a coincidence..." tweeted one notable account, boasting an "Anti-Woke" and "Anti-Fake News" bio. Some have even gone so far as to claim that it was evidence that Crooks was an MK-ULTRA candidate - a government-engineered assassin, for all intents and purposes.
BlackRock has had its fair share of confrontations with the conservative right. In recent times, the company became a hot topic of contention due to its embrace of ESG investments, which stands for "environmental, social, and governance." Basically, ESG investments represent an attempt by corporate America to show concern about issues beyond simple profit-making.
Recently, certain sectors of the MAGA movement grew adamant upon discovering that several companies were investing in ESGs. They swiftly denounced this as indicative of a widespread "woke" conspiracy.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the enigmatic assailant, has proved elusive when it comes to his political leanings. Initial disinformation spread online suggested that Crooks was a member of Antifa. These claims were swiftly debunked. Following his identification as the shooter, it was reported that he was a registered Republican, with classmates corroborating that he held conservative views. A complex situation has arisen due to a reported $15 contribution Crooks made to a Democratic-aligned political action committee on Joe Biden's inauguration day.
In conclusion, the link between Thomas Matthew Crooks, BlackRock, and the video advertisement remains speculative and unproven, despite the theories rife in certain circles.
- The conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination attempt on ex-President Donald Trump have targeted a corporate video released by BlackRock, claiming that the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was somehow connected to the company.
- Despite the video being taken down, BlackRock confirmed to CNN that Thomas Matthew Crooks was indeed in the video, raising suspicions among conspiracy theorists.
- The tech-savvy conspiracy theorists have gone as far as posting footage of the video on Twitter, embedding it in their claims, declaring a secretive plot by BlackRock.
- However, as the future unfolds and more details emerge, it remains questionable whether Crooks' appearance in the video was part of a nefarious scheme or simply a coincidence.
