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Team Trump has been courting QAnon followers. The Wash. Post asked the WH for comment on the violence-linked conspiracy theory. Instead of condemning it, deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews said that it's the Post that "peddles in conspiracy theories." https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-the-trump-campaign-came-to-court-qanon-the-online-conspiracy-movement-identified-by-the-fbi-as-a-violent-threat/2020/08/01/dd0ea9b4-d1d4-11ea-9038-af089b63ac21_story.html
That response is similar to what the National Republican Congressional Committee said a few weeks ago about a similar issue: https://twitter.com/ehananoki/status/1284124493368250374
To put a fine point on it, the GOP communications strategy on QAnon is apparently:
1) recruit and engage QAnon followers;
2) don't criticize the violence-linked conspiracy theory;
3) accuse outlets like the Wash. Post and MSNBC of being the real conspiracy theorists.
1) recruit and engage QAnon followers;
2) don't criticize the violence-linked conspiracy theory;
3) accuse outlets like the Wash. Post and MSNBC of being the real conspiracy theorists.
Another Trump campaign example: Trump adviser Tony Shaffer went on a QAnon program and expressed support for the conspiracy theory, claiming that it "has some really good inside information" and "there's something there.” https://www.mediamatters.org/qanon-conspiracy-theory/trump-adviser-and-law-enforcement-consultant-tony-shaffer-claims-qanon-has
At the conclusion of the interview, Shaffer said he would try to get "other folks in the campaign" to appear on the show:
